My Bedroom Planning Exercise

Please bear with me while I work through my bedroom :)  Writing about the this stuff helps me arrive at decisions & though I probably could have written this whole post and not hit "publish," at the end, I figured some people might want a little glimpse into my thought process.  (As all over the place as it is ;) ;)

We moved into our house in September and immediately started construction on it so we weren't able to actually move into our bedroom until around the holidays last year.  Because we were living through the construction and there was just so much mayhem around us, I kept the bedroom really empty.  Like, weirdly empty.  No bedside lamps (We used vintage-style globe lights in the tree in our courtyard garden to light the room at night and little book lights) no art, no accessories... just a bed and a dresser and two little tables flanking the bed.  Something about the bedroom in its "blank slate" state excited me and made me feel like there was so much potential.  It made the house and the whole experience feel new and exciting.

{Our bedroom before we moved in...}

I also like to go to bed at night and feel like there's not a lot of "stuff" around me.  The typical decorator thing to say is that "I work with color all day long and need a break" so I keep my bedroom white... but I'm not sure I if like a white bedroom because I'm a decorator or because, like most people, I'm busy and feel like I'm surrounded by so much STUFF all of the time that I like to keep my bedroom simple and spare so that it's a relaxing place to retreat to at night...  So I can look around and really not see anything at all except my garden.  And exhale.

We reworked our bedroom and replaced the wall that overlooked a small courtyard between our house and garage with a large sliding door:

{During construction...  a large metal wall blocking the driveway has been added to completely enclose our little garden and we have floors and walls now too}

We've been living without much in the bedroom for a while now but the book lights are finally starting to get a little old and I'm ready to have it feel a bit more "finished."   I have my furniture already but still need to really pull the room together.

But I'm having some issues!!   I am so on the fence about how much I want going on in there!!  I have a serious love for textiles and patterns and a little bit of Boho on one hand,  but on the other, I love a quiet mix of solid textures.  I've decided that I'm doing Fern Star in Sepia on the bed mixed with some Squid flower pillows ...

{Fern Star & Squid Flower}

... And it's coming down to curtains and walls.  Up until a couple of days ago I would have said "no way" to anything going on my walls because I love the calm of my bedroom so much and really do want the focus to be on our garden, but I'm having trouble getting some of the pretty pictures I see all of the time with bedrooms completely wrapped in wallpaper out of my head.  They're so charming!!  Especially with angled ceilings:

{Gil Schafer's Guest Bedroom}

My bed is on a high wall (approx 16 feet high) and it's the perfect wall to really load up with art.  I have so many pieces I've collected over the years and the wall would hold so much, but it would completely de-Zen my room :/

{How gorgeous is this?!!!!  One of my favorite rooms ever...  by Nanette Brown}

This week, I'm pulling up the wool rug in the bedroom for the Summer because we're in and out to the garden so much that we're tracking water and little leaves in all of the time... cleaning the rug is becoming a pain. Again, this excites me because it's making my room emptier and less finished.  (What is up with this??!!!)

Anyway, it is TIME for me to buckle down and make some decisions.  (Gotta love my hubby who doesn't have an opinion on any of this btw!!)  So... final decisions for me to make are:

1.  I need to finalize my curtains, which I've always just envisioned would be simple ivory. Now, I'm reconsidering.  (I have a feeling everything will go ivory/ white as planned and that I need this little bit of last-minute second guessing before I go through with it.)  

2.  Walls... anything???  It's more in keeping with the rest of the house to leave them as painted ivory but those pictures are tempting me!!! :/  So is the idea of horizontal wood paneling painted ivory.  I just did this in  a client's home and loooooved it.

{loooooove!!! House Beautiful}

3.  Artwork... I'm leaning towards hanging some of my old black & white prints & lithographs on either side of the bed above our nightstands and leaving the rest of the wall empty.  I have a tapestry that I'd like to try to overdye and hang above our dresser on another wall if possible.  BUT the jam-packed wall of art appeals to me too!

{This has so much more going on that I feel like I want but I honestly feel like I could move right in it's so perfect!!!  I'm torn!!!  Image via House Beautiful}

In all design decisions, I find it helpful to think of the overall mood and feeling I want the space to have.  If I had to nail down what I'm after in my room I'd say:  Relaxed, calming, light, airy, natural, a little rustic, charming, modern in feeling yet made up of more traditional pieces, collected, a tad Boho, and a little cool/edgy (vs. pretty/ sweet if that makes sense.)

With that in mind... I'm leaning towards doing curtains in either an ivory or other light neutral that has some sort of a "raw" feeling texture... like a linen with a very loose weave or rough fibers.  Or maybe a natural-colored barely there sort of tribal pattern.... We'll see.

For the walls... I think I need to stick with painted for now.  I can always add more down the road.  But I am so tempted by the paneling.  My biggest reason for not doing it because I'm not sure how much more construction I can handle in my life right now.  (They're working on the upstairs family room loft right now and as much as I love the guys, I'm just feeling like I need to be done.)

And for the art...  I'm going to play with what I've got and see what I can come up with on either side of the bed.  If it feels like it's not enough, I'll add more.

I'm off for the day but I'll keep you posted!!!  Thanks for coming along with me & if you didn't (Mom!! ;) ;)  I understand.




If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

5 Reasons To Waterproof Your Basement

Basement waterproofing is a required process for properties which have some of its structure at ground level or below. Basements suffer from water damage because a build- up of water from the ground surrounds the basement, causing the water table to rise, leading to hydrostatic water pressure. This build- up of water exerts itself into the floors and walls of the basement, causing the water to penetrate through cracks and joints causing structural weakness. A basement which does not receive treatment will develop structural problems as well as damp related issues.

Basement waterproofing has several benefits and in order to inspire you, here are the top 5 reasons why you should water proof your basement:

Improve the value of your home

Properties with habitable basements could potentially increase their value by 25% or more. Many homeowners are under the misconception that basement waterproofing is an expensive, time-consuming hassle with no real benefits. However with the right products, once completed it can increase the property’s value so much that it outweighs the cost of the waterproofing process.

Potential buyers can quite easily be put off buying a property if the basement is not waterproof. Homeowners who fail to repair their basements usually find their properties on the market for a lot longer than homes with a habitable basement.

Buyers will also be attracted to a habitable basement as many home owners use the extra space for storage, gyms or games rooms.

Health and well-being

Prolonged exposure to visible mould, water damage or dampness can increase the risk of a number of diseases including asthma, respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis and eczema. As well as skin allergies and respiratory infections, there is also sufficient evidence associated with hypersensitivity pneumonitis and damp buildings. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a rare inflammatory lung disease with symptoms of cough, difficulty breathing, and fever.



Research has revealed that babies, children and elderly people are more prone to skin and respiratory conditions due to damp and mould.

Waterproofing protects against mould and fungal rot infestations

Basements that are not waterproof will begin to produce nasty mould and fungal rot infestations. Basement waterproofing will ensure that these infestations are treated as well as preventing future outbreaks. Mould and rot growths are the initial warning signs of damp. If left untreated, the problem will only get worse. These infestations will need to be treated using advanced damp proofing products to ensure that the infestations are destroyed.

Mould thrives off moist surfaces, therefore if you waterproof your basement you are effectively removing their food source, causing the mould to die because the surface will become dry.

Electrical Fault Concerns

If significant amounts of moisture and water seep inside your basements walls, this may pose a dangerous threat to your health. Moisture is a perfect conductor of electrical currents. If electrical outlets or plugs become moist, this could pose a serious threat of electric shock. If you notice an electrical outlet which is slightly moist, turn off the electricity immediately and seek professional help from a qualified electrician. A small amount of water can begin to corrode a wire and make it incredibly dangerous to touch, so you must act immediately with caution.

Further Damage

Damp basements which are left untreated will cause major structural problems, costing a lot of money to repair. For example, if water ingress is not treated, dry rot will continue to thrive causing major structural problems which could cost costing a lot of money to remediate.

What’s involved in the basement waterproofing process?

Basement waterproofing can be achieved in two ways, either by blocking the passage of water into the building with external waterproofing or cementitious waterproofing.

An external structural waterproofing system is designed to help waterproof new build cellers to earth retaining walls. An external waterproofing system firstly waterproofs the substrate by applying a liquid waterproofing material with a brush or trowel. Next, the system removes hydrostatic water pressure from the building with a specially designed Cavity drain membrane.

With the rise of local water tables, more basements and earth retaining walls are being subjected to hydrostatic water pressure leading to water ingress into the building. An external waterproofing system will alleviate this problem and further risks of damage will be reduced.

For more information on external structural waterproofing click here: http://www.permagard.co.uk/external-waterproofing.html

Cementitous waterproofing is a relatively easy process because the materials are usually readily available from a supplier. For cementitious waterproofing to work effectively, it is important that you prepare the surface before treatment takes place. All previous coatings of plaster, renders, paint etc must be removed back to the original masonry substrate.

The essential thing to remember when applying wall tanking products to concrete is that there must be a key for the product to bond to. A bonding slurry coat may be used on water proofing concrete which then provides a key for the wall tanking product to adhere to.

Applying wall tanking products is relatively easy and can be applied simply with a priming spray to the affected area. A minimum of two coats are recommended, but this will depend on the product you use. Wait at least 24 hours between coatings before apply another coating.

For more information on cementitious waterproofing click here: http://www.permagard.co.uk/cement-tanking.html

The most established and trusted manufacturers of basement waterproofing membranes are Newton Membranes and Delta membranes. Their products are designed specifically to control the passage of water using several systems including cavity drain membranes, drainage channels and sump and pump systems.

Newton Membranes and Delta Membranes are available in different sizes and materials depending on the waterproofing problem. You can find Newton Membranes and Delta Membranes from Permagard.co.uk, manufacturer and supplier of specialist products for the restoration, building, building renovation & maintenance markets.

Grilling BBQ debate divides Britain

Homebase have released this infographic as a fun debate to celebrate BBQ week!

Infographic source: http://www.homebase.co.uk/grilling-bbq-debate-divides-britain

"I'm So Excited!"

....Those words come out of my mouth a lot.  Like multiple times a day when things are good.  (Whenever I'm looking for a reaction about something from my mom or Grandmother, they'll say, "Oh I'm happy, I just don't get as excited about things as you do.") Anyway, today I'm so excited!!

We're installing a couple of rooms in a client's condo in DC and it is such a fun project!!  My client is fearless in her approach to decorating. (Well, I'd say her only fear is that her home not be bold enough or colorful enough or too traditional.)

{Hot Pink is entering the Condo.}

I'll keep you posted in instagram :)

Also, today is the debut of Elizabeth Street's Washington DC section!! Elizabeth Street is a beautiful website that showcases stylish moms around the world who give great mom advice for visiting their cities!

I'm honored to have been included and if you get the chance, check out the new DC moms!!  They're introducing a few of us each day.  www.elizabethstreet.com

Have a good one!!




If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

How to Fit Out Your Conservatory with Blinds

A conservatory is one of the greatest pleasures when the nice weather arrives. It is the ideal way to expand your entertaining space within the home, or even create a comfortable home office or play room. Whatever your design for your conservatory, one of the key parts of making it a great place to spend time is fitting it with appropriate window blinds.

Depending on the design of your conservatory, window treatments can be rather tricky to source and install. If your conservatory has a glass roof, your first priority is to be able to provide both privacy and temperature moderation. Without adequate window coverings, not only will it create an additional expense to heat or cool but flooring and furnishings can also be damaged by UV. The sun can fade and cause irreparable damage unless it is appropriately filters.

How Pleated Blinds Work

There are a number of window covering styles that will work in a conservatory, but one of the most efficient options is the pleated blind. Sometimes referred to as a cellular shade or honeycomb style, the pleated blind is constructed with air pockets that are engineered to filter temperature and light. In other words, when a pleated blind is installed it literally captures the heat and UV rays and filters it within the air pockets. The result is a minimal amount of light and heat permeation.

Pleated blinds work in the converse way as well. If your conservatory is winterised, quality pleated blinds can help prevent heat from escaping the room as well. This helps to keep your space comfortable and you save on heating or cooling costs. They are lightweight and easy to install inside the recess window well and most manufacturers provide a good selection of solid colours as well as semi-transparent designer options to create a fashionable look.

You can change the entire feeling of your conservatory and give it an affordable facelift simply by changing your window covering. With a few touches you can make it a beautiful space to enjoy and entertain in for the summer.

Fontanot Exterior Staircases are Both Stylish and Practical

Are you looking for a staircase that blends harmoniously with the exterior of your home, indoors, or in the garden? You should consider a spiral staircase that satisfies your need for practicality and provides a stylish accent at the same time, making it the best choice for your home.

Fontanot has a selection of spiral exterior stairs designed to fit your needs and make your home beautiful. Techne Linear is the spiral staircase for outdoor use. The balusters are 20 mm and round, and the handrail is made of diamond tough PVC with an aluminum core. And best of all – Techne Linear spiral staircases come in colours! Created from technopolymer with colour mixed right in, the staircases can be matched to your exteriors or provide an accent point with a pop of bright colour.

Fontanot spiral staircases are perfect for either indoor or outdoor use. The colour will not wear off with use or fade in the sunlight, so you will be able to enjoy your new staircase for years to come. Wherever you decide to place your new spiral staircase, you will get years of use from this tough, UV resistant material, making it a practical, aesthetically appealing choice for new stairs.

Guest Post written by http://uk.fontanotshop.com/

Top 5 Air Conditioning Tips

If you live in New York, you are no stranger to its brutal heat wave in the summer. We loathe the painful cold winter months, and wish heavily for warmer days. We often forget how hot our summers can get

until we step outside into nature's oven in the middle of August.

Homeowners will be spending an average of almost 20% of their annual energy bill on cooling this year. Though this may be 20% well spent for comfort, it can increase if you are not sensitive to your air conditioner's regular, and required maintenance. If you want your air conditioner to run accordingly during its peak usage, and without any unexpected repair costs, you will want to keep these 5 tips in mind for optimal results.

1. Clean and replace (when needed) the air condition's filter.

Sounds simple enough, and if you read other blogs on tips and maintenance you will see this as a top priority. Guess what? No one ever does it, or if they do, the percentage is below average. The filter collects dust and allergens as they circulate throughout the home. When your filters are neglected they become clogged, forcing your air conditioner to work double the amount of time to give you the same results you. Golden rule is to have your filters changed every 2 to 3 months. 

2. Annual checkup.

If you are lucky enough to have central air, just the same way you have your heating unit inspected annually (so we hope), the same applies to your air conditioning system. Annual maintenance checks for leaks, worn out coils, filters, freon levels, and any inconsistencies with performance goes a long way. Addressing any potential issues can minimize your unit's failure.

3. Thermostat adjustment.

Consider a programmable thermostat to adjust your settings for set times throughout the day. When used efficiently, this is a huge money saver.

4. Sealing cooling ducts.

Air travels from room to room through your ducts. Proper sealing will improve your unit's performance by as much as 20%. Duct sealant, like mastic or foil tape to seal your seams and duct's connectors will prevent any loss of air.

5. Think Energy Star.

Nothing beats the savings of an Energy Star central air system or individual unit. These units deliver less energy consumption and are a much better value.

Always keep your unit protected in a heavy plastic sheeting when it is time to store it, and before doing any kind of work to the air conditioner, be sure the unit is unplugged. Room air conditioners have one or two capacitors, which can be found behind the control panel and by the fan. Capacitors store electricity, and you can receive a severe shock even when the air conditioner is off.