A Savannah Apartment.. part two

As I settle into my apartment I am getting into the more detailed design aspects.  The fun part of adding the life and excitement into the space.  The more time I spend in the space I start to see it in a different light and from a different perspective.  I will get a spark of inspiration and instantly know the right artwork for that wall or that that plant needs to be moved over two inches.  It is a slow process but everything is starting to settle in.

In the living room I added two identical rock prints slightly askew from the loveseat.  In this room there are a lot of windows and doors so it was hard to place elements symmetrically.  I usually am drawn to symmetrical and balanced interiors.  In this space I had to embrace the asymmetrical.

The plants above the mantle needed some sunlight so I moved them to the table by the window.  This gave me an opportunity to switch up the mantle display. The mantle is a great space to keep on rotation.

This mantle is a definite focal point of the living room with the rod iron cover plate contrasted with the white subway tiles.  I have continued this contrasting pop of black throughout the apartment.

With the plants off the mantle it gave me the perfect place to display some of my black and white prints, my whale and bubble print.

In the other corner of the living room is my business center, book shelf and bar. The chair that I had transformed earlier this summer fits perfectly nestled in the corner.

The shelving is constructed out of the crates that I had stained and refinished. It creates are the perfect storage and display area for some of my colorful nick nacks and artwork.  Just having some fun with pops of color and shapes. 

The view from my loveseat looking into my bedroom.  I've kept it very neutral with shades of white contrasted with dark wood tones and pops of black.

My big comfy bed sits perfectly in this high ceiling room. 

This palm print fits perfectly in this room. I love surrounding myself with palms.

In the corner I created this little space with a sling back chair, mirror and a black and white bubble print.   This space is truly transforming into my dream space.  I will no doubt continue to shuffle things up as I continue to live in it to keep things interesting and alive.

Be Inspired. Be Bold.

peace&love

Rebecca

A Savannah Apartment

After a long two day drive in a 16' truck and long days of packing and unpacking, I finally made it to Savannah.  There is something about this city that is so magical, whether it's the spanish moss hanging from the live oaks creating perfect canopies or the sprinkling of palms creating a tropical aura.  It's hot and humid and I love it!

I have been planning and prepping for this apartment for quite some time now and the time finally came when I got to put the plan into action!  As is with any project, once you get into the space everything changes and you have to adjust.

This is a Victorian style apartment with great bones and high ceilings.  The walls were freshly painted in a light cream so a neutral canvas for me to add to.  The first thing I added to the room was some life with my collection of plants.  I never travel anywhere with out them.  It's a great way to add a pop of color, texture and pattern.

All the elements I added were kept simple, sticking to neutral whites highlighted with tones of wood.  This sling back chair, created by my Father, fits perfectly in this room and topped with a sheep shin rug adding texture and fluffiness.

Shag rugs are my favorite, sandwiched between shades of wood.

I wanted to create little moments of interest, layering textures and items.  Coffee tables are a great place to have some fun with color and unique items.  A floral pattern handkerchief topped with shells, magazines and a scented candle.

My white couch, that I've had since my days in Delaware, works perfectly in this space.  A neutral canvas to add color and texture with the variety of pillows, all handcrafted and handsewn by me.

Into the bedroom I started with the perfect bed, a wood frame topped with a fluffy white comforter.

The crates that I spent so much time staining and varnishing at home, work perfectly as side tables.

Some small objects to top the side table.

A navajo rug is the first thing I step on when getting out of bed.  A nice neutral pattern to add a pop to the room.

Finally above my dresser, I layered peg boards, mirrors and pictures to create something fun and an interesting way to store and display my jewelry.  I'm excited to continue to organize and design my apartment.  Good design is alive and is always changing.  Keep it fresh and exciting.

Be Inspired. Be Bold.

peace&love

Rebecca

Transformation of a Chair

A couple of months ago I was up in my Grammy's attic which is chalk full of furniture, artwork, and things from the past.  My Grandparents are at that point in their life where they are trying to de-clutter, so every time we go up they make us take something home from the attic.  I'm always on the lookout for interesting furniture that needs a little love and a makeover.   This was the perfect chair.

Once I brought it home, the chair continued to sit in my basement for a couple more months.  As it normally goes, I was waiting for the perfect moment with the perfect idea to start the project.  I got the vision right before our trip out to Wisconsin, so I had plenty of time to plan it out and let it simmer.  I got pretty antsy having to wait until I got home, usually when I get an idea I start it right away (I'm not very patient) so this was good for me.  But as soon as I got home the sanders came out and deconstruction began.

As you can see this is a pretty sturdy chair with minimal damage to the frame.  It just needed refinishing to the arms and new cushions and upholstery.

My father, who is my refinishing expert, helped me sand down the arms.  From sanding the stain off and exposing the natural wood, we discovered that this chair was made of maple.  I then went to match the stain.  On my first try it was a perfect match.  A couple layers of varnish and it was good as new.

I then practiced my cushion making and deciding on the perfect color combination.  I love the look of the cream against the wood but I did not have enough of the fabric to cover the entire cushions.  I went back to the store to find that same fabric but it was not there.  I instead came back with this rusty brown fabric that I absolutely love.  Now I had the dilemma of which fabric to use.  I settled on using both.

My next dilemma was the piping.  As you saw in earlier posts I experimented with natural dyes.  Onion skin vs rust.  The both look very nice, so it now depended on the look I wanted to achieve.

The final product.  I am very pleased with how this chair turned out, it was exactly how I envisioned. This was my first attempt at cushion upholstery and it was a huge success!  As you can see I went with the onion skin piping which really makes the chair pop!

If you flip the cushions over the rusty color is exposed.  A reversible cushion was created out of necessity but turned into something pretty cool.

This was a great project that didn't take too long to complete.  I can't wait to put this in my new apartment, it will fit in perfectly.  When each element is thought out, planned and created it is easy for everything to come together nicely.  (More on the apartment design to come!)

Be Inspired. Be Bold.

peace&love

Rebecca