16 February 2011

...the big to do...

<<< victorian ceiling medallions painted & repurposed as wall decor >>>
<<< tea tin mini herb gardens for the kitch >>>
<<< vintage picture frame as jewelry display >>>
<<< graphic painted wood floors- it gets better with natural wear & scuff marks >>>
<<< wood palettes painted washed white repurposed for a coffee table >>>
<<< gold chain link & silk braided thread- gorg (I've done this with mvg debossed leather & silk) >>>

...here are some diy projects I've stockpiled- these are on my big to do list that I'm hoping to tackle soon! {all images via pinterest} xx mvg

09 February 2011

...south residence...


...here is a design concept board & space plan I recently pulled together for a client.  We shared a similar aesthetic so it was really fun pulling everything together for her formal living room.  Her goal was to achieve a glamorous but cozy space where she could entertain & relax.  The overall look was to be somewhat classic with some rustic accents.  

Drawn from her inspirational images I chose a color palette of deep teal, tangerine, dusty blue, black, & charcoal.  The teal walls & other accent colors will add some needed drama, sophistication & richness to her space while fulfilling her desire for a "cozy but glamorous" room.  To work within her budget we chose affordable furnishings that still had that vintage/classic vibe & paired them with some traditional silhouettes accented by a couple of modern & rustic pieces to create some visual interest.

The furniture layout in the space is more condusive to entertaining & conversation than her previous layout.  The greatest challenged faced with this was trying to figure out where to place the piano that needed to stay in this space while maintaining a good traffic flow pattern & conversation area.  In the new layout I brought in a sofa & coffee table to compliment her antique chairs.  Stools doubling as side tables have been strategically placed & can be brought in as extra seating.  This will help to prevent a furniture crammed area with little room for movement.  Can't wait to see the finished product...stay tuned! {xx mvg}


...uxua + diy chandelier....

...while cruising through design trippers  I came across the non hotel, hotel, UXUA by Diesel's creative director, Wilbert Das in Trancoso, Brazil.  Such a rad community of houses built or restored by local artisans using mainly recycled & repurposed materials.  These abodes have some truly unique decor including sinks, baths, & showers carved from fallen tree trunks, local roof tiles restored from old local farm houses, & one of my favorites (shown above), colorful chandeliers made from dried local acai berries...after scouring the internet for where I could buy one of these beauties I realized it would be way cooler to make one myself!  Since we are currently in transition- this project will have to wait until we are settled in our new home in France, but I'd thought I'd share anyways & hopefully you can add a glamorous chandelier with an earthy touch to your own space....{xx mvg}

...project borrowed from gus + lula....
...the materials....
+ lots of long strands of beads-all the same length (although they suggest mardi-gras beads, I think that dyed dried nuts or berries or wood beads would be more classy but also not too expensive- you could find these at any bead store- may have to restring if your strands aren't long enough though)
+ metal hanging garden basket
+ spool of thin-gauge wire
+ wire cutters
+ wire clothes hanger
+ pendant light kit (cord & socket)
+ metal chain to hang fixture
+ light fixture mounting bracket, bolt & loop
+ light fixture ceiling cap
...to start....
+ paint the hanging garden basket to match your beads
+ easiest to suspend your chandelier from something such as a ladder while you work on it
...add ring to top...
+ remove the metal hook from the basket- you'll need to wire a light fixture ceiling bracket to a ring (can make out of bent clothes hanger).  The loop on top screws onto a hollow bolt that screws into the bracket, which you can later attach the chain to.
...add structure...
+ add a ring (can be made out of bent clothes hanger) 1/2 way between the top of the chandelier & the lower ring for a little more shape.  This will allow the beaded strands to swag a bit without the metal chains showing....

....add the color....
+ add the beads by attaching them around the top ring- you can do this by looping wire around the top bead of each strand & securing them to the metal ring.
+ continue to attach to the middle ring (top of basket)
+ cut any extras off if your strands are too long & once you are happy with the coverage you can attach all of the strands to the bottom

...add chain & ceiling cap...

...hang & lust over...


                                     

03 February 2011

...anthro love...

....lusting over nearly everything in the "at home" section of the anthropologie website....here are some pieces that I wouldn't mind adding to our new home in France....{xx mvg}