Glamorous Closet Makeover
This closet was designed for a fashionista. Her room was average size which meant her closet was way too small. After reviewing the space I suggested that the room be expanded by knocking down the wall to the adjacent bedroom. This gave an opportunity for a very large closet space.
We had eleven linear feet to work with- heavenly. We chose to work with the container store storage system called Elfa. This is a great product because it is very flexible and can be rearranged easily as your storage needs change.
The big focus for my client was shoe storage, we have an entire section from floor to ceiling for just shoes. To finish off the look, we added a sheer drapery treatment to use instead of doors. The fabric is a bold choice but it pulls the whole room together. The drapery hardware is a great product that offers lots of options for the finials. Here we chose a large clear ball to add a sparkle.
Here are the before pictures-
This is the finished project- Lots of organized storage space with a touch of glamour.
The closet from the second bedroom was made into a vanity area.
This is a close up of the drapery detail.
Holiday Fun
TODAY is the day I will start my holiday decorating, this is a process that can actually put you in a mood other than jolly. I want to share some simple tips to give your holiday style without creating more stress than necesssary.
KEEP IT SIMPLE- An interesting container with shiny ornaments in it makes a great statement, no fluffing involved!
FOCUS ON ONE COLOR- A grouping of objects in one color is very striking. The simplicity of using one color takes the stress out of making sure everything goes together.
ADD SPARKLE- Use candles and shiny crystal or silver to give a festive feel to any room of your home.
USE WHAT YOU HAVE- bowls or vases filled with fruit or ornaments make great centerpieces. Group several sizes together to add interest.
The holidays are a time to enjoy, take some time to add special touches to your home. When you are relaxing at the end of a busy day or enjoying time with friends and family, let your spaces reflect your unique style, without too much fuss. Heres to a beautiful holiday season!
Now, off to do my tree- more pics to follow.
A special thanks to kubodo.com, macroimagen.net, and iroonie.com for use of the images f rom their sites.
DIY Chalkboard Wall
Chalkboard paint is a very cool product, I have seen it done in many creative ways from painting a refrigerator in it, to painting a ceiling and creating a chalk mural above a bed. Seeing these projects got me thinking about how to incorporate this cool product in my own home. When I discovered a chalkboard paint that is tintable I was so excited. I knew then I would paint an entire wall in chalkboard paint.
What I discovered is that inspiration is the easy 1% of a project and the rest is 99% perspiration. We have been re-doing my teenage son’s room so I found the perfect place to apply my great idea. My husband was not quite as excited as I was about this very cool proposition. I knew I would be mostly on my own to make it happpen.
I started with the color palette, we were moving away from the light blue color that had been the color of the room since Justin was 8. He is now 15 and ready for something a little more mature. I chose light gray and chocolate brown with orange accents. This would be perfect because one entire wall in his room could be chocolate brown chalkboard paint.
Next was finding the paint, I confidently walked into a Sherwin Williams store near my home and asked for tintable chalkboard paint. They kind of looked at me like I was making this product up. Apparently this is not a stocked item. Being a designer, I have resources so I called my Sherwin Williams representative Lori and asked her to help. She gave me the info. and told me to call the store to order in what I need. I was making progress.
I ordered the paint, and turned my attention to the wall itself. All the walls in my house are heavily textured, which isn’t very conducive to a writing surface. This wall needed to be retextured-(oh happy day) a prospect that requires quite a few steps and can be pretty messy. So I got 2 gallons of joint compound, a putty knife, a good drop cloth, some help from my hubby and honed my drywall texturing skills. It is actually kind of fun. I put 2 coats on the wall which is 8 feet high by 11 feet long. I sanded the wall lightly with sandpaper between coats and let it dry for 24 hours before applying a primer paint coat. The wall was finally ready for the paint.
I had a painter paint the room for me, I needed a break after all the drywall work. What he discovered and I should share with you is the application of chalkboard paint can be tricky. It needs to be applied with a foam roller and followed with a brush to be completely smooth. The paint tends to bubble when rolled on and if left this way, it will dry with a texture. This also required 2 coats with another coat of touch up in some areas.
The wall was finally finished and it looks great. This project was pretty time consuming, I consider it research and I was happy to do it for my son. I also definitely recommend this for my clients it is a great look and works great for kids and adults in a bedroom, playroom or office. As for recommending it as a DIY project- that depends on you. I have a great drywaller, painter who can do it for you- even better!
Wall prepped and ready for joint compoundSanding between coats
Was it me or the wall that gets textured?
- A finished chalkboard wall is great way to express yourself.
J. Heiland Interiors
We combine experience and creativity along with a strong collaboration with quality contractors and craftsmen to provide exceptional design that our clients love; providing you luxury and functionality at an affordable price.
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