Custom Black Out Roman Shades

Every decorator has a favorite thing to see installed. I think mine is a toss up between new pillows (they really can transform a room!) and new window treatments. I was so happy with the way Joanna's roman shades just transformed her bedroom!

The white linen fabric with the cheery yellow trim has such a brightening effect on the room! The shades are also super functional. You know I am a big fan of making shades out of mini blinds and also glueing fabric on top of matchstick blinds. Both are great methods, but for this project I knew we needed something a little more permanent and hard-wearing, so I had my seamstress make the blinds. We had them blackout lined, which, beyond looking great and giving the linen a nice weight/drape, it's so nice for blocking out the city lights at night or the morning sun which always comes too early for us parents!

Custom shades are not inexpensive (that's why the DIY method can be great to keep around for some projects), but if you are using the shades every single day, I think the extra cost is justified. Joanna lives in a prewar apartment and her windows are extra, extra long so the cost was a little more than standard windows.

I had these exact shades priced out at the Shade Store for comparison to my work room, and they quoted me $650 per shade. Yikes! My seamstress did BOTH shades for several hundred less than that. So again, ask around. If you look on craigslist for a great seamstress, you can get custom work for a lot less than you might expect.

PS The mustard yellow vintage trim completely makes these shades for me. We bought the trim at JEM in Tribeca for just a few dollars a yard. They still have some left if you'd like to stop by and snag some for yourself!

Joanna's Bedroom

It was so fun decorating Joanna Goddard's living room and nursery last year, I jumped at the chance to work with her and her super-cool husband, Alex, on their West Village apartment's master bedroom. The room before we started was lovely and simple, but Joanna told me she really wanted to add more color and energy to the space, which made sense because she works in there a lot.

I thought I'd share all the after photos here and through out the week I'll share details on the DIY projects and sources. Come back in a few hours for info on Joanna's rugs and our inspiration starting out point.

Good Hotel Bedding

I will never tire of classic embroidered linens. These below from Schweitzer Linen are really amazing. The red is clear and bright (avoid those muddy rusts at Pottery Barn!) and the triple line is just perfection.

This photo is from West Elm's recent interview of decorator Nick Olsen (of Miles Redd/Domino fame). He is so gosh darn talented. Check out the interview here.

Quinn's Nursery

Wouldn't you love to work at Anthropologie? More specifically, wouldn't you love to have an employee discount to Anthropologie?? Yeah, me too.

One of my clients works there and is due this summer with a little girl to be named Quinn. Here's where we are with the nursery...

We wanted something fun and bright and girly but not overly so. Still working on finding the perfect dresser/changing table.

Anthropologie products here:
Chesterfield Sofa (my client scored a damaged one at a very deep discount)

Finnegan the Fox

String of Pearls Lamp

Coat of Arms Mirror

Fabric Letter Q

Sofa Upholstery

I'm a big fan of buying the best quality sofa you can afford in a neutral color. Pillows can be the pop of color and pattern and can also be easily changed.

Both my mom and I are in the market for fabrics to reupholster our sofas and, while I think the neutral sofa idea is pretty sound advice, I am finding myself sort of drawn to colorful or large-scale prints. I'll probably still go with a kid-friendly linen-look fabric in a solid color (chocolate, navy or gray most likely), but I like looking at these pictures and dreaming of being a little more adventurous in the meantime.

elle decor


Cottage Living

Martha Stewart Living


Kristen Buckingham


Timothy Wealon

via coco kelley

domino

Annie Schlecter

Mary McDonald

domino

domino (Amanda Peet)

Peacocks!

I'm so loving the peacock duvets from Dwell's new bedding line, due out this April.

Now, just to choose between the yellow and the gray... hmm...

via d*s

Billowy

Today I'm dreaming of curtains made from miles of sumptuous fabric...

photo via Paul Costello

Revisiting the DC Design House...

Here are a few more rooms from the 09 DC Design House that impressed me...

I love the warm gray and vibrant yellow combo in this sitting room decorated by Sally Steponkus and Heather Safferstone. Isn't that Windsor Smith for Kravet fabric to die for? Coincidentally, CocoCozy is hosting a giveaway right now for two pillows in this exact print - check it out here.

Designer Sarah Wessel wanted the shelves in the showhouse library to be filled with leather-bound books. When she couldn't find enough to her liking, she used Farrow & Ball wallpaper to cover inexpensive books. I love this look! Using scrapbook or wrapping paper would be a less pricey alternative to the wallpaper. Just don't forget to label the spines of the books!

David Mitchell made a serious statement in the living room by simply cutting and arranging pieces of art paper for this beautiful framed series.

{and don't you just love those pillows??}

Elle Decor published a room by Shelton, Mindel & Associates that featured some very similar artwork done by Gunther Forg. Mrs. Blandings posted about this artwork and shared a method for creating her own version.

Elle Decor via Mrs. Blandings.

For more pics and info on the 2009 DC Design House, go here. And if you're a DC local, mark your calendars now for the 2010 Design House: April 10-May 9.

friday, friday.

don't you love that it is actually feeling like fall now! well, at least for the morning hours. which means here in the south, you can actually wear jeans and not die when you walk outside! i hope y'all have a wonderful weekend....off to clean, again....

*images courtesy of where the sidewalk begins, dress design decor, swishlist, tammy manet, house beautiful/windsor smith

carefree...

these pictures make me want to be a kid again! i love the yellow thrown in there w/ pink...

speaking of kids- please keep your fingers crossed that mine doesn't get kicked out of school today....i have so much i need to do!! have a fabulous tuesday.

* images courtesy of ciao tay, maree homer, glam lamb