designer’s challenge
September 13th, 2007 @ 11:11 pm | home | Post a CommentWe move next weekend (Yes, you may pause right there and freak out with me for one moment)
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(okay, moving on) and my decorating plans are coming together, at least in my head. Somehow making them all come together in actual reality in the actual house might be a challenge, but I figure I have to start somewhere.
I’ve mentioned once or twice or twenty times how obsessed I am with the colors of Martha Stewart’s new line at Macy’s. Perhaps I’ve even been to Macy’s three times just to see it all with my very own eyes. The Washington Post read my mind and did a whole feature on the collection today, and, in a moment of true bliss, I found out that the color Martha used on her famous window displays at the Macy’s in NYC is from her line of interior paints at Lowe’s and it’s called Vintage Map. And I can buy it and put it in my own house and then I will become just! like! Martha! (Except without the felony record and all that.)
Oh my, have I lost you in all this babble about Martha and paint? I’m sorry. Maybe I can wake you up by posting photos? See if you can channel my vision for the house once I give you the “before” photos and the “inspiration” photos.
Paint Color Before: Clotted Cream (I made that up, but it sounds good, right? You really don’t need a photo. It’s ugly.)
Paint Color After: Vintage Map (or what I call Pale Robin’s Egg Blue)
Living Room (right side) Before:
Things I want to put in this living room:
Sofa (not necessarily this one, but something similar maybe?):
Coffee Table:
Living Room (left side) Before:
Things I want to put in this room:
Flat screen tv on a credenza kinda like this:
Plus a white mantle on the fireplace and white bookshelves built in to the left of the fireplace (Dad — seriously, can you come visit and bring your tools?)
Dining Room Before:
We got this new solid wood table for $100 on craigslist last weekend: (Still need chairs. Ideas?)
And that’s about all I’ve got! Lucky for us, the built-ins are staying and the heinous furniture is going. Of course, new paint and four pieces of furniture are just the beginning, but I don’t have the vision or the budget to add the rest right now.
What do you think so far?
I love the paint color. Not sure about that coffee table
But I abosolutely trust your vision! Just promise you won’t use velour slip covers on whatever chairs you get for your dining room like the previous owners!!!?? Good luck moving - hope it’s not too hot!
written by alison
September 13th, 2007 @ 11:43 pm
great vision! great colors! great furniture! if only the moving/painting could be done for you overnight. then you could enjoy the fruits without all that pesky labor.
written by megan
September 14th, 2007 @ 1:11 am
I love the built in shelves!! I also love the colors you have chosen!!
I kind of feel bad for the previous owners have to live with that furniture…
written by NYKAT
September 14th, 2007 @ 7:52 am
I’m a newbie to your website, by way of Whoorl! Can’t say I love Martha quite the way you do, but I do love the new color you’ve picked out! When I moved into my condo, I bought a few key staples (couch, table, etc.) so I had a place to collapse after moving/painting/etc. But, then I lived in my place and began buying more things … as both the piggy bank would allow and as I had a better feel for the space and what was needed where. Looks like you have a great start - don’t get too bogged down by the rest. It’ll fill out in good time. Good luck with your move!
written by Nilsa S.
September 14th, 2007 @ 8:17 am
i love your ideas and the colors! i’m glad they’re taking the furniture too. ick!
written by cady
September 14th, 2007 @ 8:34 am
My eyes start to glaze over when people wax poetic about Martha. But I’m back now, I promise.
I’m going to throw out a word of caution about buying a lot or painting a lot as soon as you move in. Sometimes, it takes some living before you know how the light hits, which rooms you’ll use how, and where your money would be best spent. But it is fun to put your personal touch in a place, too, so don’t let me rain on your parade!
written by RA
September 14th, 2007 @ 8:57 am
Additional ramblings:
- I am a huge fan of the L-shaped sectional. It is awesome when the hubby and I can lie down at the same time. It also took away the necessity for a recliner. (Thank the Lord!)
- I am so jealous of your fireplace!
- Nice score on the table!
written by RA
September 14th, 2007 @ 9:00 am
LOOOVE the Robin’s Egg Blue! Love!
This is so freakin’ exciting. Maybe I should grab my hubby, a couple of plane tickets, his tool box, and head on up there!
You have gorgeous taste, it looks like. I cannot wait to see how this all goes. Plus, it looks like the “bones” of the house are amazing! Y’all did a great job picking it!
written by elise
September 14th, 2007 @ 9:21 am
You will have that place looking like you hired a professional interior designer in no time! And then? You can come do my house.
written by Marriage-101
September 14th, 2007 @ 9:35 am
That Martha Stewart robin egg’s blue color is EXACTLY the color I meant to paint my guest bedroom! Except the color I picked ended up being kind of electric robin egg’s blue. Oops! It may be time for a repainting.
I love all your choices, but that clear coffee table looks like it would be a pain to keep clean. But you are probably a lot cleaner than H and I are!
written by -R-
September 14th, 2007 @ 9:56 am
I am a Martha fa, too, and I love the new Macy’s line.
Your decorating choices sound great. Maybe you could get some inexpensive, eclectic chairs from Ikea? Ikea always seems to have something inexpensive but modern.
And, from personal experience, make sure to label your boxes! Do not neglect this important task!
Happy moving, happy decorating!
written by Janet
September 14th, 2007 @ 10:28 am
The blue is AWESOME.
A couple of notes:
-The coffee tabel is very cool, but lucite can scratch and scuff and then it always looks dirty. Always…
-The couch makes me want to come and watch TV at your house (on the flat screen on the cool credenza).
I’m going to e-mail you some inspirational blog links because your blog doesn’t always like my links.
written by Nic
September 14th, 2007 @ 10:31 am
I love that blue. It’s gorgeous. I dig the see-through coffee table, too!
One day maybe I’ll have even a rental apartment to decorate! Sigh…
written by Laurel
September 14th, 2007 @ 10:37 am
I love the color. It was the exact color of our bedroom in our old apartment. It’s a nice soothing color but also bright and uplifting. (I sound like such a loser).
I’m also totally loving the sofa. I’m not 100% sure about the coffee table but I am also SOOOOO not cool enough for modern furniture so my opinion doesn’t count. Can’t wait to see more!
written by Sarah
September 14th, 2007 @ 10:40 am
THe internet ate my comment. I love your colors. I love the new house. I seriously would like you to come and decorate mine when you start your new career as an interior designer — it’s extra narrow, it will be a great “challenge”!
Good luck with the move!!
written by Operation Pink Herring
September 14th, 2007 @ 11:06 am
Damn, woman! You’re making me jealous. I loved decorating my house when I first got it, but now I’m ready for a new project! I really like the table. Hmmmm….chairs? Gonna have to think on that.
written by Emily
September 14th, 2007 @ 11:13 am
Right there with you, since I didn’t buy my house but got a house that I can do what I want with it, I have been busy, just like you. Visualizing my decor.
Martha is a little expensive for me right now. But someday. Oh someday!
written by Abbie
September 14th, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Woo!! This is so exciting. Love the blue…LOVE the couch…and the hardwood floors are gorgeous. It’s going to feel like home in no time. Congrats!
written by Lauren
September 14th, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
Okay, I’m now obsessed with the blue color. It may also be going in my new house. Is that okay?
And not that you asked…but you know you can buy paint to paint your fireplace with?? That might help make it not so dark.
Dude…I hate assvice. Sorry. I’ll shut up now.
written by Isabel
September 14th, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
I’m so jealous (in a good way!) that a) you are able to buy a house before you’ve even been married AN ENTIRE YEAR!, b) that you get to buy new furniture for your new place.
We were married 6 years before we could buy, and we still have a lot of the shabby (”chic”) furniture from when we got married. Half of it even came with Hub-E from his bachelor days. Of course, at least he has good taste and it’s mostly cool antiques. But still… our sofa is getting pretty beat up with flattened cushions.
How I would love to paint and decorate my house in fresh! bright! colors. But, Hub-E, likes to have his opinion about pretty much EVERYTHING, which is a blessing and a curse, and we usually have to settle and agree on colors and such.
Oh well. I suppose it could be worse. He could be a sports fanatic and I could be a hockey-football-basketball widow. Thankfully, I’m not, and he helps me garden and cooks some mean ol’ cuisine meals.
written by Chiada
September 14th, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
love it all. congratulations!
written by Lana
September 14th, 2007 @ 2:44 pm
So, I was in NYC yesterday and was in the studio audience at The View…and guess who the guest was?? (Well, first and foremost, Kenny Chesney was on and that’s why I was there, but…) Martha was on! She gave us all a $50 Macy’s gift card, a copy of her magazine, and a plate from her new collection at Macy’s! I’m not a Martha fan myself, but laughed when I read this post…yep, saw Martha yesterday!!
written by Shesabigstar
September 14th, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
I love the ideas! I used a similar shade of blue in a bedroom and bathroom and it is very calming (and looks great with darker furniture)
written by Emily
September 14th, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
Love the “Roger” chair (I have 6 of them), they are modern but look great in my old SF flat and vintage table. The Harry and Henriksdal might look nice too…
written by KG
September 14th, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
You have a beautiful vision for your home…
written by Princess Extrordinaire
September 14th, 2007 @ 8:31 pm
Best decision so far:
O.M.G. That coffee table is to die for! Like… oh my.
Even better with the martinis on top. Be sure to show it like that always.
written by Jam
September 15th, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
Looking good!!! I love the paint color and the style of the credenza thingy you like. Very nice
Those built-ins are beautiful.
written by Nap Queen
September 15th, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
I white washed coffee table or wood to match that modern credenza would be cool too. Or even something with a glass top with wood legs.
The dining table is awesome. Collect mismatched chairs to put around it- very ala Martha (or Friends).
written by alexa
September 16th, 2007 @ 11:08 am
Love, love, love the built-in! Love the whole house in fact!
Tell me where your going to get your Lucite coffee table. We would really like one but can’t seem to find it… bah!
written by Ashlie
September 16th, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
LOVE the look you are going for! So chic!!!
written by Lindsey
September 17th, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
here’s my opinion for what it is worth ;). It looks like you are wanting to go somewhat vintage with the couch, coffee table, and credenza along with clean square/straight lines. Something I’ve seen done that could work with that is to mismatch dining room chairs. Visit a flea market or thrift store and pick up…for that table… probably about 6 chairs, if you’re leaving the leaves up, which I would, I LOVE big dining tables, and refinish them. It’s really easy, all you need is some coordinating fabric and a staple gun. Depending upon the colors of the chairs you may want to paint them. I prefer white with a crackle aged look. Which you can buy ‘crackle’ paint at any paint store. Also, because that room is narrow you might want to only use 4 chairs and push the table flush with the wall. Maybe a large painting over the table to set it off. I love your paint colors. Good luck to you, I look forward to seeing the finished product.
written by Paige
September 21st, 2007 @ 1:16 pm
[…] Janet — Not only is she the proud new owner of a house, but she also has some awesome decorating ideas. AND she had the most fabulous destination wedding ever, which I will most definitely steal ideas from when Tim and I have my fantasy vow-renewal ceremony which is currently possible only if I pretend that things like traveling to beaches and consuming mass quantities of umbrella drinks don’t actually cost money. […]
written by Sangria Lover » Archive » Blogging Girls who Rock
September 25th, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
[…] Even though we’re not looking to rent moving vans quite yet, Janet is. I will live vicariously through her and her awesome new house in DC with it’s beautiful colors and big plans. […]
written by hola, isabel » Blog Archive » My kid learned how to fly a helicopter this weekend. Sort of.
October 1st, 2007 @ 2:06 pm