Winners: Barclay Butera’s book- Living in Style

Posted June 30, 2009 by deb under Giveaway

And the winners of Barclay Butera’s book, Living in Style are….

#3 craftytammie who said “um, what part of my house doesn’t need sprucing up?! There isn’t a room here that is finished! But if I had to choose, I’d say it’s our boys’ room. It needs a whole new look – one that is past the baby nursery stage but not yet the teen boy. Everything seems so themey – or grown up – or babyish, I can’t decide on something that will work!”

#17 Tanya who said, “I. want. that. book! I would love to redesign the baby room into a guest bedroom with a crib to the side. I hate that I can’t have guests sleep over. It would be awesome–one room, two functions.”

Thanks to all who entered- we loved hearing about rooms that need a makeover!  {Afterall, that’s what our Redesigns are all about}.  Winners- please send us your shipping information to admin AT freshnestdesign DOT com.  A big thank you to Barclay Butera for sponsoring this giveaway.  We love your style!

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Tags: Barclay Butera, Living in Style

Staircase Gallery

Posted June 30, 2009 by erin under Pretty Stuff

I think that many times staircases get overlooked in a homes’ design.  Here are some that make a statement all their own!

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I love this one because of the dual purpose it serves.  Not only is it stairs, but it provides tons of storage space and makes for an interesting design element.  (Yes, there are no handrails so based on where it is and whose living in the home it might be against code to build with no handrails.)

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This one’s beautiful natural materials speak for themselves!

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This stair design, at first glance is just a standard wooden staircase.  But all the risers are actually drawers!  Ingenious!  This is in my file for ideas for my own dream home!

Shawna’s Stair Redesign via Homebug.  Another awesome idea!  These stairs were carpeted.  She removed the carpet, painted the treads and wallpapered the risers.  Absolutely gorgeous and such clean design!

Apartment Therapy Boston

I love painted runners on staircases.  It’s a quick way to add a color accent.  Imagine how boring this home would be without that simple painted blue runner!

Ok, I have so many more awesome stairs bookmarked so I think I’ll save some more for later!

**Don’t forget to enter our current design challenge!  See here for details and the submission form!  There’s an awesome headboard up for grabs to the winner thanks to BedroomFurniture.com!

Tags: paint, stairs, storage, wallpaper, wooden

Monday Redesign: Amy’s Living Room

Posted June 29, 2009 by deb under Space Redesigns

Remember Amy’s great blue wall in her Living/Dining Room area?  Here is the before picture:

The wall is about 25 feet long with a 15 foot peak.  Amy just painted the wall and needs help decorating it.  Here is the redesign:
 

General tip:  To decorate a vaulted ceiling, try to mimic the peak as much as possible.  This will make the wall visually appealing. 

A break down of the goodies:

1. I would place a tall bookcase to visually separate the living area from the dining room.  I would use many of the picture frames you had placed on the piano and end table and use them to decorate the shelves.  {This bookcase is from ikea and is only $60!}
2. I found this wonderful pitcher on etsy and love its texture and colors.  I think it’s a perfect accent to place on the top shelf of the bookcase.
3. Add a plant to the top of the bookcase.  This will extend the height of the bookshelf even more and also add greenery to the room.  {The plant pictured is a pothos}.
4. Hang some art work above the piano.  I found this art piece at Target.  It’s three separate pieces.  I would hang them about 6 inches apart.
5. Hang an art piece above the dining room table.  This will create balance in the room.  I suggest something like this Iron Forest Wall Art.  Again, found at Target.
6. Add a modern lamp to the corner of the room.  I found this lamp at ikea for only $40!
7. Clear off the piano so it looks clean and simple.  Add an orchid to the top of the piano next to your family picture.  It adds a color pop and brings everything together. 

I hope you enjoy your new wall redesign, Amy!  I sure had a great time designing it.  Do you need a space makeover?  Submit your space here.

P.S.  Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for Barclay Butera’s book, Living in Style.  It ends today!

Tags: blue, dining room, expansive wall, living room, vaulted ceiling

Before Redesign: Amy’s Living Room Wall

Posted June 26, 2009 by deb under Space Redesigns

Amy sent us picture of her living room wall.  She recently painted it and loves the color, but is having a hard time decorating it.  We are here to help! 

Here are Amy’s answers to our questions to help us design her space.

What are your favorite design store/home décor stores?  They can be brick and mortar stores or online stores.

I usually shop at Home Goods for my home decorating needs, and occasionally I pick something up at Target.
What 3 words would you use to describe yourself and the feeling of the space you’d like?

Home, Family, Cozy

What is the most important thing you’d like done with the space?

I don’t want the blue covered because I love it, but I need that wall to have a purpose – it’s just out there right now!

What are two of your favorite and least favorite colors?

With the blue wall color: brown and white; my least favorite are green and red.

What are the overall dimensions, including ceiling height (if applicable) of your space?

That wall is about 25 feet long and the ceiling at the peak is 15 feet.

Is there anything else you’d like us to include or consider in designing your space?

I’d really love some way to display photos in the living room, but don’t want to just throw 30 frames up randomly on the wall.

Stop back by on Monday to see the Redesign of Amy’s wall.  Do you have ideas you’d like to share?  Feel free to leave them in the comments.

P.S.  Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for Barclay Butera’s book, Living in Style.  It ends on Monday!

Tags: living room, wall

Landscaping Redesign

Posted June 25, 2009 by deb under Space Redesigns

Remember my front door?  Well my wonderful and handy husband, Casey installed a nice glass door last night.  Even though it doesn’t look quite right yet, it will get there.  On Saturday we  plan to paint the door and the left side of the door with the window black.  I think this will give a great foundation to our front door redesign.  Here is what it currently looks like.

On Saturday we are also having a palette of retaining wall blocks being delivered to our house.  We will be ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work.  Here’s the plan… 

This landscape rendering was done by Nicole over at Thrift & Industry.  She is very talented and I just love her beautiful drawings (if you live in the midwest or Portland area she could probably help you out too).  I told her that I needed a simple, easy to maintain yard and she gave me a plan for just that.  We spend a lot of time outside, but prefer to spend it chatting with the neighbors, blowing bubbles, and dipping our feet in the kiddie pool with our wee one.

We plan on doing our landscape design in 3 phases.  I don’t have a natural green thumb so this will prevent burnout, and also make it easier on the pocket book. 

We are starting phase 1 on Saturday and will be building a 3 block high edging out front that will wrap around the side and taper off.  I’m pretty sure that will take most of the day so that’s all we are shooting for.  {It’s also about 104 degrees here with the heat index so we don’t want to over do it.} Soon after we build the edging, we will be filling with dirt and planting new plants. 

I will be keeping you updated on the process and doing tutorials along the way.  It’s going to be an exciting ride so hold on to your jockeys.

Tags: front door, landscaping, plants, redesign, rendering, retaining blocks