Dallas Blog | Material Girls | Dallas Interior Design

When I was a senior in high school, one of the items on the required reading list was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.  After chapter 1, I was hooked.  It’s a beautiful story, and if you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it before you see the movie (scheduled to premier May 10th).  The descriptions of the life of the wealthy in the 1920′s is mesmerizing.

Original book cover of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

A life full of partying, prosperity, and feeling the need to be free from the constraints of what was deemed socially acceptable at the turn of the 1900th century brought around the Art Deco movement.  A call for new fashion, new architecture, and new furniture and home decor!  Immediately everything went streamline, architecturally as well as decor.  Geometric shapes, and bold colors were all the rage.

A real 1920′s beauty bedecked all in dazzling Cartier jewelry.

Baz Luhrmann is by far my favorite movie director and producer.  He can take a old classic story and turn it into something new and over the top like no one else.  You can totally see what I mean if you’ve ever watched Moulin Rouge, or Romeo and Juliet.  His adaptation of The Great Gatsby has once again totally hit the mark with his impeccable style and lavish ways of transforming something great, into something even greater.  If you ask me, I think he’s done a remarkable job defining the 1920′s era by putting a modern day spin on it.

The stunning Leonardo Dicaprio as Jay Gatsby.

Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan

Gatsby’s Humble Abode

Now this is the kind of entry hall I’m talkin’ about!  This is where Gatsby hosts all of his lavishly epic parties.  It’s the perfect atmosphere if you as me!

Welcome to the party!  The outside movie set of the famous swimming pool/fountain party scene.  Looks like a blast!

Take a look at Gatsby’s bedroom.  The clean lines and no frills make it the perfect bedroom for such a dashingly dapper bachelor.

Daisy’s sitting room exudes femininity with all it’s pinks and blushing hues, accented by soft whites and golds.  I’m loving that patterned rug and long fringed throw over that side chair!

Even Tiffany and Co. has gotten into the spirit of the movie.  They’ve designed an entire collection devoted to Daisy, the leading female role in the movie.  If you visit their flagship store in NYC, you’ll find their famous window displays bedazzled with 1920′s glamour in  honor of the movie.

Looking for that special outfit to go along with your new diamonds and pearls from Tiffany’s? Just stroll on down to the Brooks Brother’s flagship store on Madison Ave.  They’ve transformed their store with a vintage 20′s ambiance that’s sure to make you want to pop open a bottle of bubbly!

Still can’t get enough of that fabulous Art Deco style?  Take a gander at these gorgeous rooms!

I love the soft golden back drop of this room.  The ebony furniture pieces make a dramatic contrast against it.  The marble floor inlay is breath taking, and look at that console on the back wall!  I’m in love with the Greek Key motif in white that borders its edges!

One of my favorite pieces of furniture in a grand home like this one, is an entry table that sits in the center of a foyer.  It’s so stately!

Let’s face it, deep down, everybody wants a grand sweeping staircase like this to walk down every morning.  I know I sure do!

This Art Deco interior embodies the clean and simple shapes found in many period buildings.  Check out all that silver leafing on the ceiling!

This Parisian apartment designed in in the early 20′s is still fashionable today!  Just look at the shape of the cocktail table, and the gilded screen behind the sofa!

I’ve always been in love with these simple and sophisticated prints from the 1920′s.  These wallpapers are still a classic, even after 93 years!

So, if you haven’t bought your ticket yet, what are you waiting for?! This is definitely a movie you don’t want to miss on the silver screen!

Last week we had the honor of being invited to High Point Market in High Point, North Carolina!  We were more than thrilled when we were contacted to host a tour of new vendors at the Suites at Market Square building.

Our first evening there really set the tone for the entire trip.  Material Girl Lauren, Material Guy Nathan, our friend Meg of LeSueur Interiors, and I made our first stop at the CR Laine showroom for a little get together with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.  While we were there, we met up with Material Girl Jill, and our fabulous friend Christian, of Maison21.  It was a great first night in High Point!  What could be more fun than having a blast with friends in a gorgeous showroom, while meeting other fellow designers and design bloggers?!

 The Material Guy and I at CR Laine!

Material Girls Lauren and Emily with Meg Lonegran! Check out that awesome Schumacher fabric on the wing chair and accent pillow!  It’s perfect with that sofa!

Emily, Rachel and Meg with design blogger Nicole of So Haute!

Our first full day was just that…. a FULL day of shopping, checking out all the vendors we could possibly squeeze into one day, and spotting all the new stuff we could see!  We found a ton of new and exciting vendors that we can’t wait to start using in our designs!  There is so much to see at High Point Market, we feel like we barely scratched the surface!

Amazing new lamps at Visual Comfort-

We brought home lots of great new vendor sources to use on our client projects!

The Bungalow 5 showroom was amazing in person!

We’ve always been a fan of glass knots as accessories.  These beauties are from Sklo.

We met Tara Shaw of New Orleans, who couldn’t have beem more nice!  It was incredible that she gave us a one on one tour of her booth while we were there.

We loved these guys too!  Their look is fresh and exciting, with great use of color and materials.

On day #2, we hosted our Material Girl tour through the Suites at Market Square.  It was really special to be able to meet and connect with some of our devoted readers!  The vendors I targeted on the tour Nathan and I hosted were Festoni, The Detroit Wallpaper Co., CHC Art, Louise Gaskill Lighting, Tamarian Carpets, Saddleman’s of Sata Fe, and Tara Shaw.  We had a really good group, and we think they enjoyed their tour!  We know we sure did!

Tamarian Carpets

CHC Art

The Detroit Wallpaper Co.

Louise Gaskill Lighting

Saddleman’s of Santa Fe

Our tour group at Tara Shaw!

After our tour….. you guessed it!  More shopping and scouting for new vendors to add to our list!  We found some good ones!

Of course Aerin Lauder (and her new collection at Visual Comfort) was s-t-u-n-n-i-n-g!

Regina Andrew had some great new lighting and accent furniture pieces that are to die for also!

Loving this wheel bookcase from Noir!

The agate series from Wendover are so colorful and each one is really unique.  We will be specifying these asap for a client.

After another full day of shopping, checking out vendors, showrooms, and hosting tours, it was time for the famed Halo party!  What a great way to spend our last night in High Point!  We were finally able to get all the Material Girls that were at market all together in the same place, at the same time!  It was a blast getting to hang out at the fab Halo showroom and share a glass of champagne with our fellow Material Girls!

From left to right: Nathan (Dallas), Emily (Dallas), Julia (Chicago), Jill (LA), and Lauren (Houston). We missed you Rebecca (New York)!

Our last day in High Point was short, but we were still able to squeeze in a few more places to see! Our first stop was Oly Studio’s showroom.  It was beautiful with it’s clean and crisp white color scheme.  Have always wanted to see their pieces all in one space and they certainly did not disappoint!

The biggest highlight of the day we found at the Vanguard showroom.  As we were walking through, we turned the corner, and low and behold, there was Thom Felicia!  How adorable is he and his greek key belt? Love!

Before we headed back to our hotels to pack up and head to the airport, we were able to have a fantastic roof top lunch over looking High Point.  A perfect way to end a spectacular trip to market that we’ll never forget!

We’d like to give a big thank you to the High Point Market staff and vendors who all helped make 2013 Spring Market memorable and successful! See you next year! 

News alert: Barbie is “selling” her infamous Malibu Beach house!

It is now on Trulia going for an imaginary 25 million dollars which started last week, February 7th. Josh Altman is an agent in Malibu that works with all the celebrities in the area and is going to help Barbie sell what was once her “dreamhouse.”  Don’t worry though, Barbie is set to move into a whole new house which will be unveiled this Fall!

Barbie- EJ Interiors would be more than happy to help you decorate your new pad and we PROMISE that not all of your furniture will be made out of plastic.  Wink

 

Barbie’s former uber pink living room.  The furniture seems kind of cold and stiff- especially that diamond tufting on her sofa…who was her upholsterer?

And that dining room Barbie….we have to get you some new pieces! We know you tried so hard to “mismatch” your table and chairs so it didn’t look like it came as a set, but it still looks very Pottery Barn. Please let us modernize this space! Is your chandelier colored murano glass? Looks like it and if so, bravo Barbie! The architecture is nice in here- let’s accentuate that!

Barbie’s kitchen is what you’d expect- pink, pink, pink but after all, this is 2012 and pink cabinets are just not the fad anymore (trust me Barbie, I just painted over mine!) I know the truth is harsh sometimes, but you really need to paint your cabinets white and install carrarra marble countertops.  No, the veining is not pink, it’s gray but I think you could live with that right? Ok, ok we get it- you only want polished pink Tenessee marble.

And now for Barbie’s bedroom! Barbie is just not as young as she once was (sigh). Though her old bedroom is cute, it is also juvenile and screams “I’m still living with my parents”. Barbie, we would give you something mature and feminine, but also stylish. Do you really think Ken will ever pop the question if he knows this will be his future bedroom?

Well, maybe he would if he sees this fantabulous blue hot tub/bath combo complete with a partial pergola, overlooking the beaches of Malibu- (and not to mention, it’s about the only “manly” thing in this house!)

Ok Babs- we will hand it to you- your bathroom isn’t too shabby.  It looks like you did some pink barbie subway tile with white beadboard above. We like this in theory, but I think you could switch this to 48″ high white beadboard below and wallpaper above.  There are so many great wallpapers out there, what’s stopping you? The heart towel holders though have got to go- that’s where we draw the line!

Barbie, let’s cut to the chase.  You need a decorator and we’ve long admired your style and have been wanting to work with you forever.  It will be a win-win for everyone if we decorate your new house!  To win you over, we’ve put together a presentation for you that you can show Ken, Skipper, Todd, Tutti, (and your parents Margaret and George Roberts) so you can get everyone’s seal of approval before committing.

Here it is Barbie- please call us! xoxo

Your new fabulous sofa/chaise with carved white lacquer detail only fit for a barbie queen-

Luxe, tufted pink Side Chairs.  Would go so well with orange, green, turquoise, or black and white if you wanted to bring in other colors (doubtful)

Of course you have to have something that’s chevron! So how about this pink chevron rug?

Your living room wouldn’t be complete without a sunburst mirror..and not any sunburst mirror…but a vintage one made especially for you by Shay Geyer herself!

We know you like glitz and glam (you are holiday barbie after all), so how about this- Sputnik Chandelier for your living room?

Barbie, we need to get you out of your comfort zone…so I think you should go with a white  Tulip Table.  Not everything can be pink…we have to add in some neutrals somewhere!

Ok we know you are dying with all this white, so we will give you some pink velvet Louis dining chairs- custom made of course!

This Currey & Co chandelier would look amazing in your dining room!

If you need a new paint color, try Razzle Dazzle by Benjamin Moore- (and remember, blue and white porcelain looks great with pink- hint hint)

What about drapes? Here’s some ikat fabric by the yard- 

I know, abstract art is probably totally out of your comfort zone..but what about it in fuschia?

We know you are all about luxury, so how about some faux fur pillows? Make sure you machine wash and fluff dry!

And one ribbon trim lamp shade to go on top of a brassy gold lamp-

So Barbie, if you are liking what you see, call us! We would enjoy doing a house for the world’s most fashionable doll!

Over the past month or so, I’ve developed a few new obsessions.  Having always been captivated by the world of fashion, I’ve recently taken on a new style.  The source of my inspiration has been derived from historical time periods, fashion, as well as my favorite TV show at the moment, Downton Abbey!

 

I haven’t started showing up to work in three piece suits or attending dinners in “white tie”, but, I’m enamored with the impeccable style and elegance of the well dressed men in this show.  The interiors of Highclere Castle, located in Newbury, West Berkshire UK, where Downton Abbey is filmed, has preserved the interiors of the home in their original states.  Each room shows perfect attention to detail, and is dripping with the finest gold and crystal objects.

 

The main drawing room remains perfectly intact since its last redecorating in 1895.  The walls are upholstered in antique French green silk damask.

 

Second on the  ”current obsessions” list is The Luxe Series.  My good friend Jana introduced me to the series, and now Im hooked!  These novels, set at the turn of the century, are jam packed with page turning drama, as well as lavishly dressed “dandies” and debutantes of New York’s finest families.  Along with all that, you guessed it, descriptions of grand ball rooms and  interiors that scream wealth and high society status.  If you’re looking for a good old fashioned  scandal, pick up a copy!

 

 

So, after watching Downton Abbey and reading The Luxe Series, I found myself becoming bewitched with the male characters of these stories, and their luxurious surroundings.  Seeing as how the time period of these epic dramas occur during the turn of the century, I started asking myself how I could bring the same excitement and flare these stories and characters portray, to the present modern day.  The result has been a new found approach to a way of personal style and dress, as well as interior design.

When it comes to design, I love relating and drawing on fashion as a source of inspiration.  I’ve always believed that the only thing better than a well dressed man, is a well designed interior!

 

I’m in love with this home library.  It’s clean modern look with brightly colored books is fun and inviting.  The touches of “old world” style with the gilded clock and pair of globes adds just the right amount of a traditional element.

 

The stark contrast of black and white will forever be a classic.  It’s the perfect backdrop to add a touch of color to, no matter what your mood calls for.

 

 

Check out this great home office space.  The chrome edging on the desk and shelving units really make this built-in unique.  I’m really liking the use of yellow here too, and those fabulous marble obelisks with the gold bases!

The contrast that the spring chartreuse rug, bamboo chairs, and roman shade create against the dark finish of the book case is stunning here.  I love how the brightly colored books and solitary pink flower give this space a fun feel.  Books and flowers are two of my favorite accessories!

Who doesn’t love luscious chocolate brown?  This gorgeous cocoa colored headboard with square tufts and sconces adds  great texture.  The soothing corn flower blue adds a crisp contrast against the deep chocolate tones.

The color pallet in this living area is definitely exciting.  The orange mixed with the neutral tones feels so happy, and fun, while maintaining a sense of sophistication.   According to color psychology, orange is optimistic and uplifting, and rejuvenates our spirit.  I think it’s perfect for a family room!

I love any room that feels “royal”.  Rich velvets in royal hues of purple with accents of gold and red scream majestic drama!  Prince William could come walking around that corner at any minute (or at least we wish!)

For as long as we can remember, my partner and I have always wanted a family. After many discussions and looking into several options, we decided to go with a surrogacy program located in New Delhi, India. In August of this past year, things started to get serious, and we are now well on our way to fatherhood! We are very excited, and we hope and pray for the best! Along with planning for a baby, we also have to plan for two trips to India. The closer we get to our travel dates, the more I’ve found myself looking at Indian design, cuisine, and culture. It’s so very different from the mainstream western world, and almost immediately identifiable.

How exotic is this?!  The clean, crisp white walls and decorative tiled floor make the perfect backdrop for bold Indian color and pattern.

This room is full of so much life and excitement!  All that pink is enough to make Lisa Vanderpump proud!  Ever since I was little, I’ve always been a fan of bold colors.  Rich hues are in no shortage when it comes to Indian design aesthetic.  It’s almost as if the rule is this: The more color you can put in a room the better!  It’s amazing how these spaces can look so energizing, and yet so calm and restful at the same time. Classic Indian interiors are known for their extremely intricate, ornate, and busy patterns.  Over the past month or so, I’ve ran across a few fabrics that I might use somehow in our new nursery.  We’re working to create a fun space, that has touches of some of our future child’s heritage.  Here are a few of my favorites so far.  The colors and patters are so exciting and playful!

One of my favorite Christmas past times is driving around looking at all the Christmas lights this time of year.  When I was little, my parents would take my brothers and I out for a drive to look at all the holiday decorations and lights in neighbors’ front yards.  I’ve managed to keep the tradition each year, even if it’s just me driving around by myself, or with my partner Tim, or with a car load of family and friends!  I always bring along hot chocolate, and tune in to the best Christmas radio station I can find!  Here’s a few houses in my neighborhood of the Kessler Park area in Dallas this year that went all out for Christmas!

 Holy mistletoe Santa! What have you been feeding those reindeer this year?!  Prancer is as big as a house!

I love how this homeowner mixed blue and white LED lights to create a frosty look!  Well done!

Nice pose Frosty!

This is one of my favorite homes during the holidays.  I’m a sucker for traditional Christmas decor.  I just love the green lights with a few sprinkles of red, and that big gorgeous tree in the bay window is dynamite!  I’m in love with the use of their garlands and wreaths!

If you’re unable to string lights around your house and roof line, do what this person did!  They created a great little Christmas scene right on their fence!

There’s no need to explain this one… it’s already spelled out for me!

This house I found to be a little original.  Instead of stringing lights along their steep pitched roof with the complicated numerous lines of their eaves, they hung lit ornaments in their trees instead! Genius!

You just can’t help but love the simple elegance of the homes that are trimmed in clean white lights.  If you’re concerned about taking away from any architectural embellishments or features of your house, this is a great solution to accentuate them!

Check out these cozy little cottages!  Don’t they just look warm and inviting?! It’s like a ginger bread house come to life!

And now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for! The piece de resistance, the cherry on the cake, the STAR atop the tree! In Emily’s neighborhood each year, a true lover of all holidays, Liz Simmons, decorates her home to the max! Just take a look at this beauty!

Now when I say Liz is a true lover of the holidays, you can see what I mean!  This awesome display is made up of over 100,000 lights!  Liz powers so many lights, that she had to hire an electrician to install a separate 200-amp electrical panel just to handle the load from all those lights!  If it weren’t for the additional electrical panel, her lights would cause an electrical surge and it would black out Emily’s whole neighborhood! All that extra power comes with a price tag too.  Liz reports that her monthly electrical bill is three times larger than her normal billing.  Sporting an entire brigade of Santas, snowmen, penguins, and other holiday creatures, Liz’s house just can’t be missed!

Here’s a picture of Liz herself dressed as an elf at the annual Christmas block party! To read more about Liz and her awesomely extreme holiday exterior decor, click here!

 

Recently, Beverly Hills House Wife Lisa Vanderpump, her husband Ken Todd, and their dog Jiggy, moved into their newly remodeled Beverly Hills home…. well, mansion.  At 8,000 square feet, it’s a downsize from their 15,500 square footer they just moved out of.  Lisa’s reported net worth is valued at $65 million.  So, with that being said, it’s no wonder she lives a life of lavishness!  With pink as her trademark hue, she’s tricked out her new princess digs in the pretty color.  Take a look at some of these “Before & After” shots of this glammed out Real House Wife of Beverly Hills super sumptuous pad.

Here’s the entry before:

And after:

 

 

 

Definitely a massive change!  The mirrored walls, and lighter wall colors with Lisa’s touches of pink, totally brighten this baby up!

The formal living room also “had a little work done”!

Lisa’s new Formal Living Room:

Darker hardwood flooring, lighter upholstered furniture, painted trim work, chandelier and mirrored furniture transformed this once dark living area into a room fit for even Marie Antoinette to receive callers.

 

Next on the list is the dining room.  Here’s what it looked like before:

And after:

 

The next area that got a major face lift was the outdoor living areas.  Check out the before and after’s of this part of the estate:

 

 

 

 

Talk about a night and day difference! Love how you can lounge outside, yet still be under a fabulous chandelier at the same time! And, I’m totally obsessing over that infinity pool with it’s view of the famous ‘Hills’!

Check out the master bedroom. Major pink transformation!

Even Ken’s closet got a make over!  I love how all the white and mirrors can still be made to feel masculine.

And here’s his closet after shot.  I guess the love of pink is a mutual thing! Looks like he has more pink shirts than I do!

And now, without further ado, I give you the piece de resistance….. Lisa’s closet! (although, I feel like “closet” isn’t the correct terminology for this palatial dressing room).  I don’t know whether I should stand and stare, or go shopping!  This thing is so big, it needs not one, but TWO chandeliers!

OMG, am I in Hermes? Oh, no, wait, it’s  just Lisa Vanderpump’s private closet! Check out all those Birkins! My mouth is watering!

And here’s just a little sampling of some of her bling:

Clutches, purses and bags, Oh My!

Well folks, there you have it.  The life of the the rich and famous!

The holiday season is by far my most favorite time of year.  As soon as Halloween is over, I start planing Fall gatherings with family and friends, autumn decorations for the house, and of course, the Thanksgiving menu!  But, before I begin even thinking about the food, I start daydreaming about the tablescape for the big meal!

There are so many directions and options to choose from when it comes to creating your holiday table.  The possibilities are truly endless!  Maybe it’s my Southern roots, but, I’m a big fan of dining etiquette when it comes to meals like these.(especially when it comes to sitting down at a large dining table in a separate dining room- as opposed to the “eat in front of the TV while watching football” type meal which my family has been known to do a time or two)

The best part about a big dining table is that you can create an amazing tablescape!  A great tablescape just seems to make for a more dramatic production.  I also love to mix in some elements that help make it not quite so formal, and more relaxed.  Above all, you want your guests to feel welcome and comfortable.

As you put together your place settings, there are two layouts that I like to use as guides. You can use variations of each, depending on the type of meal, and your menu.

Here are a few more place setting layouts for different meals.  Just as there are different meals throughout the day, there are also appropriate place settings for each meal.  I also like like to mix and match these depending on what I’m serving!

 

Here are some great examples of fun Fall place settings.  I love how they mix and match a bunch of different patterns, textures and materials.  That is the best way to do a table so not everything is so matchy and stuffy!

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite types of centerpiece for holiday tables are ones that are relatively low in height.  I’ve found that it’s much more conducive for your guests to be able to converse with each other if the table center piece doesn’t impede their view of the people sitting across the table from them.  I also like to use up as much of the “dead space” left on the table as possible, so I like to make my center pieces run the length of the table.

Fashionista and trend setter are just two ways to describe this new Queen of Bling!  If you haven’t already heard of this outstanding jewelry maker, there is a very good chance that you have unknowingly seen several celebrities wearing her fab colorful jewelry on the red carpet lately.  She is EVERYWHERE!

I have to say that I was so out of the Kendra loop until last weekend when my friends Lindsey and Beth gave me some of her earrings for my birthday (there is a Kendra Scott store in the West Village, here in Dallas apparently).  They were so adorbs that I had to put them on immediately and wear them out the rest of the night! It was such a fun surprise of a gift, and I should have known something was up when Lindsey called asking what my favorite color was earlier that day.  You see, Kendra doesn’t just make jewelry in a couple of colors, she has a RAINBOW spectrum of options! The colors in her jewelry are even good inspiration for a room design..I’m loving the green onyx and orange coral.

A little bit about Ms. Kendra…she got her start back in 2002, making her gorgeous creations out of the spare bedroom in her Austin, Texas home.  Today, you can find her fabulous earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets in three of her boutiques which are located in Dallas, Austin, and Beverly Hills.  You can also come across her items at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Lord and Taylor or purchase her beautiful bling on her website.

 

Reese Witherspoon sporting a pair of Kendra Scott earrings on the red carpet.

Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara in a pair a Kendra’s gorgeous chandelier style earrings.

Heiress Paris Hilton showing off a stunning pink jade necklace.

Kelly Osbourne dazzles in these show-stopping lapis and 14K yellow gold earrings

One of the things I love about Kendra’s web site is the “color bar” feature.  Here, you can create your own custom pieces with endless possibilities!  What a marvelous way to complete an outfit, by making your own Kendra Scott custom jewelry!  Below are just a few that I made on her web site that are sure to be showstoppers!

My husband gave his groosmen “themey” cufflinks last summer as gifts at our wedding…but I think Adrian or Geoff would have looked much more chic sporting Kendra’s teal cufflinks! (Ben however, might beg to differ

Take a look at a few of the other jewelry pieces that are available on her website!  With her large selection of semi-precious stones set in gold or silver,  there’s something to surely strike everyone’s fancy-

As a first time homeowner, the idea of filling your entire home with furniture (and filling it quickly) can be daunting and not to mention, expensive.  The case of my home is especially severe because a) I’m extremely impatient and want every room done yesterday (I’m still trying to comprehend the fact that I will live here for 5+ years and there is no deadline)  b) I am constantly changing my mind and switching out things so nothing stays in the same place longer than a month’s time.

{Zoey on the day we moved in…. thinking- “mom, how are we going to take this entirely pink painted house with gross peeling trim from drab to fab (and fill it with furniture) by next week?!”}

So where does this leave me?  Well, in Ben’s eyes it definitely doesn’t warrant buying all new super nice furniture for every room and honestly, I don’t think I could ever have a house of all new things. I love old things just way too much and especially giving pieces a whole new look through refinishing them. Lately, I have been doing a LOT of that.  Sometimes I paint the pieces myself and other times if it’s just too difficult, I hire someone to do it (ok, I admit, a lot of the time I  hire someone else to do it).  Remember the part where I said I was impatient?

Here are some of my recent before and after furniture projects and the info on the paint colors that I used-

BEFORE-

Antique secretary-

AFTER-

Antique Secretary-

Paint- Benjamin Moore- 689- Rhine River- Satin Finish

 

 {still needs to be accessorized!}

BEFORE-

Vintage Dorothy Draper-esque Nightstands-

 

AFTER-

Vintage Dorothy Draper-esque nightstands

Paint- Benjamin Moore White Dove with gold accents

(Need your opinion here dear readers! Do you think the gold is too orangey and should I go back to more of a soft/antique gold or do the outline of the drawers more of a yellow gold like the pulls?) Decisions, decisions!

BEFORE-Funky vintage sideboard with geometric detailing-

AFTER-Funky vintage sideboard with geometric detailing-

Paint- Home Depot- Behr- Custom Color Match

BEFORE-Fiberglass peacock chairs

AFTER-Fiberglass Peacock Chairs

Paint- Home Depot dark charcoal spray paint

{Excuse the flowers falling from the tree and our nice mess in the background }

BEFORE-Faux bamboo armoire (can’t seem to find the before photo so I borrowed this photo from Bazaar of Serendipity blog)

AFTER-Faux bamboo armoire

Paint- Sherwin Williams- Pure White

BEFORE-Faux bamboo dining chairs and table

AFTER-Faux bamboo dining chairs and table

Paint- Benjamin Moore- White Dove

So basically throughout the house I painted most of my furniture white and gray so they’d stand the test of time and then sprinkled in other pieces with more bold pops of color to add some excitement.

And stay tuned for the “afters” of these “befores”!