Subway tile at its finest!

So one of my latest projects is planning the finishes for three and a half baths....on a very tight budget (isn't every client these days?) When I think budget and style for a bathroom it brings me back to the basics....subway tile and hexagonal tile....throw in a little beadboard and you've got style without breaking the bank! Here are some photos of them used brilliantly....

Source: hgtv.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Source: hgtv.com via Joanne on Pinterest

 

 

Source: hgtv.com via Joanne on Pinterest

DYING for this Subway Tile in a Chevron pattern.....BRILLIANT!

Source: prettystuff.tumblr.com via Donna on Pinterest

Loving the hex tile with dark grout...so classic...

Source: acountryfarmhouse.blogspot.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Done in a very masculine way...

Source: marthastewart.com via Grace on Pinterest

I also pulled some large porcelain tiles and fancier marble and porcelain tiles for the master but all these pics have me inspired to use the classics on the smaller baths....Can't wait for my client meeting!

The Decorator Wears Many Hats...

In my business, I seem to split my efforts with 50% interior decorating and 50% home staging. When I am wearing my staging hat, I work mostly with Realtors, real estate investors and builders to stage vacant properties. (I also work with homeowners to stage occupied homes but the majority of my work is staging vacant properties to create that 'model home' feel. It seems to have become my niche!)


This past week I was missing-in-action in the blog world because I was frantically pulling together a vacant property that was completed within 7 days from bidding on the job...only 4 days after I found out I got the job!! Hey, I never miss a deadline so a few things had to fall by the wayside this week!

I don't have the pics of this project yet but here is a before and after shot of a vacant I did in the winter that sold in less than 90 days....off season...

Homestyling101: Before Shot

Homestyling101: After Shot

We had no budget to replace the window treatments and could not leave a $1+ million dollar home with grand windows and no treatments...so, we worked with what we had! We were happy with the turn-out and the quick sale....and that is the adrenaline rush you get with staging! 

I am clutching to my books...and loving my new one!

Ok...if you don't already know from my previous post about my love of books...you can catch up here...then you will understand why this New York Times article, "Ikes ReDesigns Classic Bookshelf, Foreshadows the Demise of Books' saddens me....is the furniture industry (mainly Ikea) really ready to abandon our beloved glossy, wonderfully smelling books for tchotchkes?

NY Times Article

Don't get me wrong, as a decorator, I rely on a good set of tchotchkes in every room but books are also an integral part of every room I design. I also can appreciate the convenience of a Kindle...and I would absolutely get one for any fiction books I read. But there is something to be said for opening the glossy pages of a photography book, a design book, a travel book and even a children's book that cannot be replaced by technology.

Do you think books are on the demise or do you adore them as much as I do?

From the creator of the Design Sponge Blog

The same day I read this article, I also received my advance ordered copy of Design Sponge at Home....I am reeling over the beautiful pictures and the new book smell.....it is a MUST read! And Ikea....I have a spot on my traditional bookshelves for this little masterpiece!

Copper for the Kitchen

Some women daydream about purses, shoes, vacations or diamonds....me, when I actually have time to be alone with  my thoughts, I somehow always end up day dreaming about re-designing my kitchen. I start thinking about the kitchen I currently have and then my thoughts wander to the kitchen in my next home: my forever home. And when I see pics like this- it just gets my blood racing!

Traditional Home

Granite counters were never really a part of my 'dream' kitchen- there was always a cool black soapstone counter involved but this amber granite started to peak my interest.....until I saw this:

Traditional Home Bilotta Kitchen

I thought I died and went to heaven....genius! Copper countertops.....I am in love. It is a little bit industrial and a little bit of glam. And paired with that ogee backsplash tile from Artistic tile....I have died and gone to kitchen heaven...

Traditional Home by Regina Bilotta

What countertops are in your dream kitchen?

Favorite Things in My Town!

First off, my apologies for being so bloggin' lazy this week! I have had little time to sit down and write with all the back-to-school preparations and birthday celebrations going on over here!

Anyway, today I am linking up to one of my favorite blogs, Centsational Girl. Kate, the Centsational Girl herself, is having a"Favorite Things in My Town' link up party...and I am showing up fashionably late! (The link up was two days ago....oh well...better late than never!)

Centsational Girl

I live in the beautiful and historic Yorktown Heights in Westchester County, New York. I have lived here for almost 10 years and this town is not getting rid of me anytime soon! What I truly love about this town is how it has the historic flavor of the Revolution, mixed with lots of country, small-town flavor and remarkably it is only about 45 miles to New York City (perhaps my favorite town of all!). Here are some photos of what I get to enjoy around my neck of the woods!

Yorktown Heights: Progress with Preservation

Another one of my favorite spots to visit in my neighborhood is Hilltop Hanover Farm, a crop farm in our town that is an educational and functional crop farm. There is a beautiful old home on the property that serves to educate children and patrons on healthy and sustainable food production.

Hilltop Hanover Farm

During the harvest season, those who are up to the task, can pick their own vegetables...or for the less inclined, you can just stop at the farm stand for the freshest veggies and flowers!

Hilltop Hanover Farm Stand

And to think that one day I could be picking my own veggies and the next day I could be picking my favorite show here:

NYC

Yes, I am a very lucky girl and I love where I live!

Choosing the right chandelier!

I have been on the hunt for the perfect chandelier for my client. She recently purchased an elegant round pedestal table in a warm brown finish paired with black chairs with cream upholstered seats. The dining area is an open floor plan leading into the living room outfitted with a gorgeous black grand piano. While I wanted something sparkly to add a bit of wow to the dining area, I also wanted to see if I could incorporate one more hit of black to tie it all together....But first they have to have the right specs:

When choosing a chandelier, here are three key measurements:

Width of chandelier: should be 1/2 the width of the table. A 60" round table needs a 30" wide chandelier.
Height of the chandelier: The appropriate height would be determined by the ceiling height. You should use the ratio of about 2 1/2 to 3" for each foot of ceiling height. 8' ceiling would accommodate a chandelier with 20"-24" height.
How high to hang: This addresses my biggest pet peeve- chandeliers hung too high!! The bottom of the chandelier should be about 30" above the dining table. At this height, the chandelier is still visible as part of the table decor but high enough to allow for conversation and practical living.
Now if I could just find the right specs and the right style for my client's home..Loving any of these?

Shades of Light

Love this one from Shades of Light but it is a bit too small for this table!

Lamps Plus

This is a better size and I love the black crystals but my client will curse my name every time she has to clean it! I think I would be kissing referral business goodbye with this one!

1st Dibs

Also loving this art deco antique from 1st dibs! Well, looks like I have a lot of shopping ahead of me and while I love shopping online, I think I have to hit the pavement for this one.....
Any great lighting sources that you could recommend? I am up for some fresh shopping!

Bed, Breakfast and Beyond....

Happy Tuesday, all! (Or is it Wednesday already?) I am feeling very refreshed and ready to tackle the next 14 days before school starts! Don't be confused by all these exclamation points...my husband and I just returned from an amazing weekend away from life and the kids and we had a blast! (Don't get me wrong, we love our kids, of course, but it is still so much fun to get away as a couple every once in a while!!)

After a little necessary outlet shopping we headed off to our first destination:

Stop #1: The Inn at Stony Creek...a beautiful bed and breakfast in the charming town of Warwick, NY. This charming bed and breakfast is a restored colonial from 1840 and was rescued from a builder's bulldozer by the amazing innkeepers, Bill Signor and Joe Campone who purchased the property and loved it up! (I have such a soft spot for those who save old buildings....they are like little lost pups who need rescuing!!) 

Check out their great blog here...recipes included! The Inn at Stony Creek was absolutely breathtaking and the service and hospitality was amazing. The architecture is stunning and the home is filled with great period pieces: federal sofas, wing chairs, even presidential portraits throughout! Here is a shot of the living room (sorry for the dark photo...much more charming in person!)

And the food was amazing! I am still dreaming about the stuffed french toast we had for breakfast....and then we were off to....

Stop #2: The Warwick Antique Barn, Inc. I felt my heart pound as we walked in...so much to look at..... and I can't bring one more piece of furniture into my home!! Uggghhh! Although if I could it would be this:

But since I don't have the white farmhouse kitchen with black accents that I would like to put this piece in, I settled on this little watercolor painting which was calling me from the corner of the barn.

MidSummer at Mount Vernon

 Sorry for the reflection but I just loved this quaint painting and at $20 I had to have it! Now I need to find a spot for it.....All together the weekend was amazing- loved the food, the accommodations and of course, the company! Have you ever shopped an antique barn before? Any great treasures?