Vintage | It's Great To Be Home

Antiquing Extravaganza

November 15, 2010 By Liz - It's Great To Be Home 7 Comments

When the girls in my fam want to get together (me, my mom, sister and aunt), we’ll often hit up little antique shops in quaint towns, or bigger fairs like Canton and War Eagle. (Next year we’re going to Round Top – yay!!!)

Last week, however, I decided to make the rounds to some of the antique shops near downtown Dallas.

I had a fabulous time, and spotted tons of goodies. I thought my mom would enjoy it as well, so we spent yesterday afternoon trolling through the antiques and vintage/retro wonderfulness. Here are some things that caught my eye:

This hutch would be perfect as a dining room buffet for linens, or in an office / craft room – those long drawers are awesome.

Trunk as a coffee table?

Pair of embroidered ottomans – perfect for the foot of the bed, or extra seating in the living room.

Loved the pattern and colors!

Reupholstered in something sassy, of course:

It doesn’t get much more retro than this:

I would love this as a console table:

This was being shown as a side table – an interesting look for a loft!

An oversized, hanging version of these:

I wished they had a pair of these – I think it would have been awesome over a kitchen island:

No explanation needed:

I kind of swooned over this mid-century coffee table – I’ve been wanting one that’s long and linear like this one:

Fab for an entryway, mud room or pulled up to a casual dining table:

Antique Jenny Lind bed frame, anyone?

Pair of walnut cane chairs:

I’m certain Jamie could work some magic with this little number:

I kind of fell in love with this 1860s four poster:

It even had the little knobs to string the rope for supporting the mattress!

What’s your take on antiquing – boring or a fun way to spend the day?

This post is brought to you by Furniture Stores – Tesco.

Design Consult: One Bathroom, Two Ways

September 17, 2009 By Liz - It's Great To Be Home 4 Comments

When Christy of Beach Brights contacted me to design two new looks for her guest bath, I jumped at the opportunity to whip that bathroom into shape.

Her guest bathroom is the perfect blank canvas, and has some killer architectural details (that crown molding!!) that will really help the new design plans to pop. Christy wasn’t quite sure what look she wanted for the bathroom, but she knew that the builder’s basic finishes had to go (including the shower surround) and that she loved painted vanities. And after taking a look at Christy’s inspiration photos, I knew that she was torn between looks that leaned cottage and vintage. That was enough for me!!

Without further adieu, here’s Plan #1 with a cottage-y yet sophisticated vibe:

This soothing color palette of white, silver and sage green feels spa-like and calming, the perfect retreat for any guest. Little touches of sparkle add an extra layer of texture and interest to the space.

~ Flooring. Christy’s guests will feel cozy and welcomed by this honey-toned pre-finished oak flooring. These woods floors are the perfect complement to her existing hardwood floors, and will allow this space to blend seamlessly with the rest of the house.

~ Vanity. This painted vanity with a granite top and backsplash has cottage charm written all over it, from the bun feet to the paneled cabinet door and drawers. And even though Christy’s bathroom already boasts a great amount of storage for a guest bathroom due to the linen closet, this piece provides oodles of storage and extra countertop space which is a total added bonus. The final touch is this elegant faucet which coordinates beautifully with the other silver accents in the room.

~ Mirror. The intricate carvings of this unique whitewashed mirror will be a stunning focal point above the similarly-toned vanity.

~ Wall Color. This soft sage green (available at Lowe’s) is the perfect counterpoint to the warm wood floors, and will allow the white and silver accents throughout the room to really shine.

~ Lighting. This streamlined sconce is a classic choice, and has beautiful details that will be a welcome replacement for the basic sconce currently located above the vanity. However, the real lighting star in this design plan is the glimmering capiz chandelier that will look fabulous hanging from the ceiling in place of the existing light. The wide top of the chandelier should cover any potential damage that removing the light may cause to the ceiling – if, however, any damage can be seen, a traditional ceiling medallion would be the perfect choice to camouflage the ceiling while remaining stylish and true to the design of the space.

~ Shower Tile. A classic white subway tile laid in a staggered brick pattern is a classic and totally affordable way to upgrade the existing tub surround. Christy will be able to enjoy the subway tile as long as she owns her home, as it will never go out of style.

~ Shower Curtain. This classic toile shower curtain is the perfect choice for this bathroom, with the sage green pattern tying in beautifully with the muted walls. The luxurious, spa-like feel of this bathroom could be amped up even further by hanging the shower curtain from a curved rod.

~ Accessories. In addition to a chrome towel bar on the wall opposite the toilet and a towel ring by the vanity, a few accessories will add some personality to the space. These capiz floor vases filled with sprays of silver dollar and placed in the corner by the shower opposite the toilet will really take the spa-feel of this bathroom over the top. Finally, this gorgeous tulip print hung in a silver frame above the toilet will provide a punch of lady-like color to the space.

And as if that weren’t enough, now it’s time for Plan #2!! This design plan is a bit more glamorous and dramatic, while its vintage-feel keeps the space soft and inviting:

~ Vanity. I know Christy is a DIY’er, so this vanity project will be right up her alley! With just a few coats of black paint, this off-the-shelf sink cabinet will be transformed into the perfect vanity for her guest bath – a little distressed paint technique will up the charm level even more. Adding a pair of these sculptural wooden feet to the vanity will give it the feel of furniture, and these vintage-inspired knobs will add a touch of sparkle. The marble countertop is a luxurious addition to the vanity that is sure to impress, and this single-handle faucet has the look and feel of an antique.

~ Flooring. Nothing says vintage like white hexagon tiles, a classic design. If Christy’s feeling bold, deep grey grout will make each tile stand out and bring her guests’ attention to the beautiful detail in the tiles.

~ Mirror. The geometric shape of the floor tiles is repeated in this stunning mirror that will look amazing hung above the vanity, and make quite a statement with its bold graphic.

~ Lighting. Above the mirror will be this sconce, which has the appearance of vintage lighting. Over by the shower, this sparkling chandelier adds glamour and sophistication to the space, as well as a touch of drama.

~ Wall Color. Pale turquoise walls will add a bit of life to the room and look beautiful against the black and white color palette – almost a Tiffany blue that is absolutely timeless.

~ Shower Tile. The classic white subway tile is again perfect for this space with its crisp, clean lines. To jazz it up a bit, this design calls for a thin line of black mosaic subway tiles at about shoulder height – it will add a beautiful bit of flair without breaking the bank.

~ Shower Curtain. The color palette of black and white is repeated in this crisp shower curtain that has a luxurious hotel feel and a touch of personality with Christy’s own monogram.

~ Artwork & Accessories. In lieu of the typical towel bar, a row of hooks on the wall opposite the toilet would be a charming way for guests to hang their towels – chrome hooks would be lovely, as well. And above the toilet, this series of botanicals in shades of pink (1, 2 and 3) is in keeping with the classic, vintage feel of the space.

So there you have it!! One gorgeous guest bathroom, designed two ways – and all for a budget of around $2,000. Which design would you choose? And while you’re at it, head on over to Christy’s blog to see her post about her snazzy new design consult!

Click on the following link to snag some design advice of your very own – Interior Design Services.

Sneak Peek: The Smurf House

August 12, 2009 By Liz - It's Great To Be Home 14 Comments

Today I wanted to give you guys a glimpse inside a house that I toured and fell in love with over the weekend. Take a gander at this charming little house dubbed the “Smurf House” (I’m sure you can guess where it got its name).

In addition to being cute, this house is also famous – it won the 2007 Renovation of the Year Award for its conservation district.

I love this porch directly off the master bedroom – it feels so Southern, don’t you think? And the pale blue siding accented with periwinkle is just awesome – I wish fun colors like that would look as perfect on every house! Although the exterior is picture-perfect, to be honest I wasn’t really expecting to be wowed by the inside of the home.

But I was wrong!

Just inside the front door you are greeted with this unexpected open floorplan – as well as some decor that had me totally swooning.

What I love most about this open living space are the bold choices and unexpected combinations made by the homeowner – the pops of orange in an otherwise muted color palette, a mirrored side table, luxurious silk curtains and statement lighting all work together flawlessly.

I like that the homeowner chose to add modern chandeliers to both the living room and breakfast area – they are in a straight line across the ceiling so instead of competing with one another they simply serve to define the two spaces in an otherwise open floorplan.

I like the kitchen a great deal, but I’m not bowled over in comparison to the rest of the home. I think it’s the cabinetry that isn’t doing it for me – maybe something in a richer wood tone would have felt a bit more historic and flowed a little better with the furnishings throughout the home. Or maybe it’s just me!

This little dining room is just past the kitchen, and is in its own little world. I actually really like that – I feel as though the focus would be solely on you and your guests, without the distractions of television or anything going on in the rest of the house. And it overlooks a great backyard, as an added bonus. I love the combination of the sleek West Elm circle chairs with the more luxurious upholstered chairs – and they all work well together with their lovely curves.

Just off the main living space is a small half bath (under the stairs), and then the master suite. And not to hype it up too much, but this is probably the best master suite I’ve ever seen in person – it’s awesome!

You walk directly into the master bedroom, which is serene yet bold at the same time with deep chocolate browns and pale blue paired with faux fur and two statement lamps. The rich curtains act as a focal point behind the bed in place of a headboard, and the door to the right of the bed leads out onto that gorgeous patio you saw above.

On the left-hand side of the master suite is this spa-like bath. The luxurious and spacious feeling is enhanced by the sliding panels (from Ikea!) which allows the two spaces to either become one or remain totally separate.

This bathroom has all the basics you would hope for in a master bath – double sinks, soaker tub, walk-in shower, and storage. But beyond that, it has all the little details that you can only dream of – a crystal chandelier, floating vanity, the shower has frameless glass panels, and the soaker tub overlooks a beautiful side yard.

My only complaint has to do with the vanity – have you noticed it yet? The mirror is about 10 feet away on the opposite side of the soaker tub! I’m guessing that the homeowner typically uses a small mirror on a stand that remains on the ledge behind the vanity.

On the opposite side of the master bedroom is this totally drool-worthy closet. I don’t know any woman (or man, for that matter) that wouldn’t give her right arm for a closet like this. Tons of built-in storage, windows, a chandelier, and an island? I’m sold!

If you head back to the front door and head upstairs, you are greeted by this lovely capiz chandelier:

At the top of the stairs and on the left is this sunny and funky guest room – I would never have been so bold as to paint the walls orange, but now I’m feeling completely inspired.

I love the combination of orange, white and chocolate – the shock value of the orange is tempered beautifully by the chocolate and white, and keeps what could be a very loud color from screaming at you. Instead, it just feels rich and eclectic.

This bedroom adjoins a hidden study through the sogi screen:

My favorite part about this study is the antique desk that has been painted a stark white – while some would shudder at painting such a piece (sometimes I feel that way, too), you can’t deny that it both looks fabulous and acts as a neutral yet interesting piece in this space.

The homeowner has clearly learned the lesson of pairing bold colors with only one or two other shades – in this case, the mustard yellow is calmed by white and black for a totally chic look.

At the top of the stairs, between the two bedrooms, is this bath remodeled with a walk-in shower and oodles of glass tile – we all know I’m a sucker for glass tile!!

The last room in this surprising home is the third bedroom, which is glamorous and refined with a bit of an edge. The element of painted woodwork is repeated with the antique bed, and the mirrored side table and chandelier add a touch of sparkle to the space. As the homeowner demonstrated in the master bedroom, the combination of chocolate brown and blue (in this case a steel blue) is instantly luxurious.

The sophisticated flair of this room is accentuated with a pair of vintage Barbie illustrations.

And although I didn’t get any pictures of it, this property also had a full guest quarters in the backyard – how cool is that? Curious about the stats of this house? Check out the detail sheet below:

So what do you guys think of this house? Are you as bowled over as I am, or do you think it’s a little over the top? While I love it, I’m wondering how I would feel living in a home like this 24/7 – I mean, how would it go with my sweatpants and tank top?

Some images courtesy of GoliadAve.