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Online Design: Modern Bedroom Retreat
Today I’m sharing one of my recent Online Design projects that I put together for Theresa in Cincinnati, OH.
Theresa contacted me because she wanted a new, updated look for her master bedroom. Like many of my online clients, she already had a few ideas of what she liked — which included a specific type of headboard and bedding – and she really wanted to paint the room gray. But she needed help pulling the whole look together and selecting the right paint color. Theresa also wanted the room to look modern and she wanted accent colors. With all of that in mind, here is the design board that I created:
Here is the bedroom BEFORE:
And here’s the bedroom AFTER:
What a glamorous makeover! You can’t tell from the photo, but the room has a high, tray ceiling so I wanted to emphasize that by using a different color. I chose aqua because it’s one of Theresa’s favorite colors. For the bedding, Theresa chose the Pintuck duvet and shams that she previously found at westelm.com.
For the fixture, she selected the Rondo chandelier {available at amazon.com}. This is a slightly different chandelier than the one I specified in the plan, which brings me to a good point. My online design service is tailored so that you can easily substitute other items that catch your eye online or in a local store.
Theresa’s bedroom is now what she wanted…a relaxing retreat with fun pops of color. She still plans to purchase a few more pieces, such as the turquoise Ravello mirror from jonathanadler.com. But even without it, her bedroom’s new look is a welcome change.
Here’s what Theresa had to say about the process: “Your services worked very well with my hectic schedule, yet with just one phone call and a few emails you were able to get a good sense for what I was looking for in our new master bedroom. At first I wasn’t sure what to expect working with a designer long distance, but it worked well.”
It’s almost a new year… Isn’t it time you did something with that room of yours? Contact me at kelly@porterhousedesigns.com to find out how I can help bring color into your life.
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eDesign: Blue, Pink and Gray
Today, I’m sharing a design board that I created for one of my clients via Design Take-Out.
PROBLEM: Tia had her dining/living room painted, but later realized that the colors she selected were too dark. She wanted lighter colors and new accessories that would brighten up the entire space (her existing furniture has dark finishes). The space also lacked sufficient lighting.
SOLUTION: I delivered a design plan that included soft colors and chic accents in shades of blue, pink and gray (turquoise, navy and pink are some of her favorite colors). I also selected new lighting fixtures that will help to improve the space’s overall lighting.
Tia already had the idea of creating a gallery wall with family photos, but she also needed a way to display accessories (she doesn’t have room for bookshelves or accent tables). So, my solution included the use of floating shelves so that photos, vases, decorative boxes, etc. can be displayed together over her sofa. Problem solved — and Tia called to say that she can’t wait to start shopping!
Do you have a design dilemma? For more information on our eDesign + Paint Color Service, CLICK HERE! Or contact me at kelly@porterhousedesigns.com.
Sources for items shown: lampsplus, wisteria, wayfair, etsy, potterybarn
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eDesign: A New Look For Birchgrove Baking
There’s only one word I can use to describe my recent eDesign project: Sweet!
Located in Montpelier, Vermont, Birchgrove Baking specializes in custom cakes, pastries and coffee.
I first heard from Jenn a couple of months ago. As the owners of Birchgrove Baking, she and her husband were trying to decide on a new color scheme. At that time, the bakery had blue walls, black display cases {left behind from the previous owners} and red accent chairs — all great colors but Jenn was ready for a change. She wanted friendly hues that would give the bakery a fresh look and appeal to her loyal customers.
After reviewing a few different color palettes that I recommended for the bakery, Jenn ultimately decided on the combination of yellow and gray. She also threw in a couple of warm blues for accent colors.
The new colors are cheerful, welcoming, and everyone loves the new look. Jenn says the bakery, which measures just 19′ x 23′, even looks larger. In a stark contrast from the previous wall color, customers are now greeted with sunny yellow walls. Jenn also removed some of the display cases, and the remaining pieces received a coat of gray paint. She stenciled the backs of a few shelves, and others were covered with Woods Wallpaper from Anthropologie, which was also used on the bakery’s accent walls.
This re-design was all about color branding and paying attention to the details: Accent chairs and the Barista bar were also given new hues.
Didn’t Jenn do a wonderful job? Birchgrove Baking was already a hot spot with the locals before this re-design, but it’s even more popular now. If you’re ever in Vermont or you live in or near Montpelier, be sure to stop by the bakery for coffee and a sweet treat…and tell ‘em Kelly@Color Sizzle sent you!
If you need help selecting a color scheme for your business, contact me at kelly@porterhousedesigs.com. I offer affordable eDesign services to assist you wherever you live {PayPal accepted}.
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Restaurant Color {The Silver Star Diner}
You may remember my eDesign post when I gave you a glimpse of my color design for The Silver Star Diner in Ontario, Canada. Well…
…I was so happy to discover that the restaurant finally opened, and from the photos I’ve seen, it looks terrific! I was so honored when the restaurant’s owner {who is also a top chef} contacted me about creating the color design for his modern diner, which was still under construction at the time.
I didn’t travel the 400+ miles to the site {although I would have gladly done so}. Instead, the owner and I exchanged sketches, drawings and photos via email, and we also had a couple of phone conversations. In the end and after several months, The Silver Star Diner opened for business earlier this year. Let me take you on a tour:
The restaurant’s owner wanted stand-out colors that would fit the diner’s modern take on tradition. He also wanted the colors to attract customers and make them feel welcome. I chose Eastlake Gold for the main color {very warm and inviting} and charcoal gray was used for the upholstered banquettes.
And for a little bling at the bar, I specified a metallic-silver upholstery for the stools.
{All paint colors are from Sherwin-Williams}
For the accents I selected fun, punch colors: Robust Orange, Gentian and Ionian. All of these colors are featured on the bar wall and on the upholstered chairs. I wanted to have the bar wall color-blocked to create a strong focal point. Then, chose Ionian for the coffee station wall:
Using ‘in-between’ colors gives a space tons of interest because they are so intriguing. In this palette, Gentian is in-between purple and blue. Ionian is a cross between green and blue.
Another great feature in this space is the ‘welcome wall’ at the front of the diner. The owner wasn’t quite sure how to treat this wall, so I suggested a silvery-gray glass mosaic tile. The idea was that the tiles would twinkle — just like stars.
Setting the mood with color is so important in commercial spaces. Just like we want to feel comfortable in our homes, we also want to feel at home in our favorite restaurant.
If you need help choosing a color scheme for your restaurant, contact me at kelly@porterhousedesigs.com. I offer affordable eDesign services to assist you wherever you live {PayPal accepted}.
Photos by: Class Act Productions; Reclaimed
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Online Design: California Dreamin’
I recently finished an Online Design project for Annette, who lives in southern California. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to design four rooms in her home, which was a blast because Annette is definitely not afraid of color and she already had great furniture pieces. For your inspiration, I’m sharing two of the projects in this post.
In the family room, we did a ‘Palm Springs Chic’ design with cheery yellow and gorgeous green wall colors {June Day and Picnic, both by Sherwin Williams}. The look also included fun, retro accessories — some of them from Jonathan Adler.
For her master bedroom, Annette wanted a glam look that included turquoise with a splash of jewel tones. The design included a turquoise ceiling {Belize by SW}, gray walls {Functional Gray by SW} and pops of red. Below is my computer rendering of the space:
When I last heard from Annette she was in the process of painting her home, although the bedroom is already done. She says that she and her husband are really enjoying the turquoise ceiling! I hope to have photos to share with you soon.
Design Boards and Rendering by Kelly Porter of Porter House Designs
View more Design Boards HERE.
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eDesign: Three Colorful Stories
One thing I love about electronic design is having the ability to work with clients no matter where they live.
It’s so nice ‘meeting’ and working with people who are passionate about bringing color into their home or business, even when they live in another state or country. I had the pleasure of creating this Design Board {above} for Libby, a fellow blogger who lives in North Carolina in the Chapel Hill area. She authors the wonderful blog, An Eye For Detail.
Libby already had great ideas for her kitchen. She just needed an extra set of eyes and opinions to help her pull everything together.
We had a couple of phone conversations, email exchanges, and I viewed photos and a video of her kitchen that she uploaded. Then I crafted a Design Board that put her in the right direction. Libby has made a couple of changes, and that’s OK. With Design Boards, I use specific items to create a vision, but I also encourage you to inject your own ideas. You can follow Libby’s progress on her blog.
Tale #2 is about Allyson, a busy mother of four who lives in the Columbus, Ohio area. Allyson contacted me after discovering my blog while she was snowed-in last month. She wanted to create a colorful dining/living space — a departure from the rest of her home, which is mostly done in neutrals. Although she loves color, Allyson was uncertain about how to add color to her home, but she was determined to overcome her hesitations.
She tested the paint colors that I suggested {very good idea!} and even sent photos:
{In the end, Ebbtide by SW won out. This color looks terrific with Allyson’s new hardwood flooring.}
Shortly after Allyson made the final decision, I was delighted to receive a photo of her gorgeous blue room. From there, I was able to create a Design Board based on previous information she gave me about her style and the space itself:
Allyson wrote that the Design Board “is perfect for someone like me who loves to shop for home decor so I can pick out items and try paint swatches myself.” I hope to have more photos to show you soon of Allyson’s transformed space.
Finally, I want to share the tale of the Silver Star Diner, which will be opening soon in Ontario, Canada.
Last summer, the owner contacted me about helping him create a dynamic color palette for his new restaurant. The restaurant would bring high-quality ‘contemporary comfort’ food to St. Catharines, a college town on the south shore of Lake Ontario.
After he emailed a few renderings of the restaurant’s original design, I colorized the sketches with specific wall colors that echoed my color choices for the seating {not shown}. I also selected a silvery glass, mosaic tile for the restaurant’s entry wall.
When I last communicated with the owner, he mentioned that there had been some structural changes to the original plan, but the color palette was still a go. I can’t wait to see photos of the restaurant when it’s finished and open for business, and of course I’ll share the pictures with you.
I hope you were inspired by these eDesign Tales. I think they are great examples of how real people in different places are moving beyond the neutral zone to create really unique, colorful spaces. What about you?
View more of my Design Boards HERE.
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