One Room Challenge: Week 6 Salon Suite!

I am so excited to share this sneak peek of my Salon Suite Makeover! Since I technically started this One Room Challenge over (so sorry, new laundry room plans!) during Week 5, I am a bit behind everyone else. I did, however, make progress over the past week including having the existing hair dressers sink/cabinet unit removed, then painting the peachy/biege walls a crisp and perfect White Gallery from Sherwin Williams HGTV Home collection available at Lowe’s.

My husband, who ripped out the sink unit, also installed a wall mount porcelain sink along with a gorgeous polished chrome lav faucet from the Brizo RSVP collection. Above the sink we hung a sleek coordinating mirror that features a sexy curved silhouette. My favorite part of the RSVP collection is the Swarovski crystal finial on the faucet. It’s just the right touch of glam for this new salon suite space where I will be working my Rodan + Fields skincare consultation business.

Casual elegance: Inspiration board for the RSVP collection by Brizo

photo courtesy Brizo.com

While the room is not 100% complete yet, I did host my first one-on-one consultant training over the weekend. It was so nice to have a professional space designated for this purpose! We were able to go over a lot of my guest consultant’s questions on how to place orders, and how to run her business independently. For me, investing in my financial future will always take precedence over completing the laundry, so I am really happy to have switched gears this time around! This week I will be adding the finishing touches to this space, so please return to see the final reveal. 

How did everyone else make out with their Calling It Home One Room Challenge spaces? Be sure to check out the Week 6 final reveal links below. It really is motivating to work alongside so many others who have committed to achieving their design goals over the course of the challenge. And even if goals were not met exactly as planned, the point is to face a project head on and to take action (progress not perfection, right?) Six weeks goes by so very quickly, and a burst of decorating energy can go a long way. What room would you dare to tackle in six weeks?

Sponsored Designers

Guest Participants


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Salon Space Final Reveal!

ORC: Laundry Room Inspiration

Elan Imbuia Chrome Fabric

Semi Flush Mount Light

Schuler New Haven Cabinetry

in Harbor Mist Maple Square

Brizo RSVP Chrome Widespread Lav Faucet
with Swarovski Crystal Finial

Freestanding Folding Ironing Board

Chrome Steel Garment Rack

Sherwin Williams paint

Currently, our family laundry room is in utter chaos. It is my job this weekend to remove all of the offending baskets of no longer worn clothes that are on the floor (and destined for Goodwill), then take a true “Before” photo of the empty space to share with you all. Once it is cleared out, I can get back in there to paint the walls (will select a Sherwin Williams color ... to be determined), trim the windows (on my husband’s to-do list), and plan on how to incorporate built-in storage to this good sized room (9'6" x 10'6") that really could function as a walk-in closet. I found the above items (with the exception of the sink faucet which I had on hand from participating in a design show house) all at Lowe’s.

I also plan to take a field trip to my local Lowe’s store in order to see what else they may have available for my laundry room makeover. I have three windows that need treatments and I am contemplating some type of shutter for the bottom half of each window if possible since this room often serves as a changing room. I also need to choose a solid counter top and hardware. I really love the lighting fixture that I found (pictured above). It is just the right combination of elegance and whimsy for this hard-working space. 

Come back next week to see how I made out with my design finds and space planning! As I mentioned last week, I am working with Lowe’s and Decorist as a designer on call, so my goal is to treat this project as a way to show what is possible when utilizing this online design service.

Follow along with the other Calling it Home

One Room Challenge designers here:

Sponsored Designers: week 2

Guest Participants: week 2

media sponsor

One Room Challenge: Colors + Fabrics

Choosing fabrics and colors for my #OneRoomChallenge office makeover has been pretty simple (although clearing the clutter to empty the space has proved to be far more difficult – I am so very behind in this part of the process!)

Once the space has been cleaned out and freshly painted (see the Sherwin Williams paint swatches that I am considering below) I will be incorporating a set of drapery panels made out of the vintage fabric pictured above into my room, most likely to frame an open closet from which I had previously removed the sliding doors. I am still using the closet to hang my dress clothes, but I would love to make this area work as a place to organize all the bits and pieces of my creative life. The panels are from a design show space that I put together back in 2010. I have been saving them ever since, and they truly bring me joy when I see them (but I am not feeling so happy seeing them folded up and not in use!) I will have to add some fabric to the overall length, however, since they are a little short for where I want to hang them. I am thinking a band of solid color on the bottom will do the trick. 

One of the first steps in “tidying-up” according to the KonMari method, is to pick up each item in your home and either keep it because it brings joy or thank it for its service and then get rid of it. I have managed to remove a bunch of stuff from my office (thank you very much), but I am not doing so well at getting it out of the house. I seriously have issues with letting go. But what can you do if many of your personal belongings are of sentimental value? Just take a look at the design show space that I called a Designers Before + After – where the vintage fabric drapes originated – and you will see actual memorabilia from my childhood used to style the room. I still have ALL of it. Some of it may resurface in my new office.

Colors I am considering ...

Inspiration photo from Nancy Meyers Instagram feed

showing the set design for The Intern

Pinboard from my space designed for the

North Shore Design Show 2010

End note: In case you were wondering if I won the trip to Paris via the Legrand Best Before + After Contest, I sadly did not. But I am still loving my new bathroom and oh so fabulous switches!

My apologies for such a short update, but I obviously still have a lot of work to do over here! Follow the other One Room Challenge participants by visiting the Calling it Home blog. Some of them have been getting it done!!

Guest Participants Week 3

Sponsored Participants Week 3

A family-friendly great room makeover

I finally had a chance to visit one of my first Bassett makeover rooms to take after photos. As with most projects, this one was completed in stages. Below are the design details ...

– before photos –

BEFORE: this family room was in need of new furnishings after the homeowners had given some of their pieces to children who had moved into their own homes. The homeowners visited Bassett, and we set up a time for me to come see the space. With young grandchildren often in the house, they wanted to create a warm and cozy room that was child friendly, yet comfortably inviting for adults. All existing pieces could go with the exception of the bar which at the time was front and center next to the fireplace.

During our makeover visit, I measured the perimeter of the room along with pieces that would be staying. Back in the Bassett design studio, I put together this floor plan which made it clear that the bar could easily be moved behind the sectional, creating a more family oriented focal point that combined television and fireplace together on one side (before the television was where the bar is now). The high bar seats can now also easily turn to view the TV and serve as additional seating when family and friends are over for the game. 

Alex Sectional with Custom Storage Ottoman

We selected a new chaise sectional in a soft charcoal colored fabric which now offers plenty of seating while also being a nice spot for reading (or napping). The pair of existing ivory chairs were eliminated from the pathway between the doorways and were replaced with a fun, large scale rustic sideboard that is highlighted with an appropriately scaled colorful piece of abstract art (also from Bassett). Sherwin Williams Sedate Gray on the walls softens the high ceiling lines, keeping the focus on the room below. On the gleaming hardwood floors we added a luxurious viscose carpet that both looks beautiful and feels great under bare feet.

Discoveries Kerala Buffet

Rexford Mist Carpet

Sherwin Williams Sedate Gray SW6169

One of my favorite pieces that I recommended for this room makeover is the Bishop Swivel Chair which we upholstered in a small scale, pewter colored print pattern. It’s a fabric that’s easy to live with, yet modern and stylish. 

Bright bits of turquoise and sea glass colors add interest to the neutral palette of this newly designed living space.

It was a real pleasure working on this room makeover, and I’m glad that the space is being enjoyed (when I was over last, I got to meet the adorable grandchildren : )

Do you have a room that’s ready for a new look? Contact me to set up a makeover appointment. {yblacker@verizon.net}

Room of the Week: Tailored Grays + Citrus

One of my Bassett room makeover clients recently sent me the photo above of her newly furnished family room. I love it! Amy came in one weekend and together we pulled a palette of menswear inspired fabrics for a pair of tailored custom sofas. We dressed the Keaton Accent Chair in a handsome gray and yellow plaid while the extra large round ottoman – my personal favorite – is wearing a classic animal print in a luxurious gray and cream chenille. Embroidered-style citrus bright accent pillows add a lively contrast while a round Wakefield Lamp Table in a warm cream finish softens the corner between the two sofas. Amy’s addition of the white shag rug is perfection! 

I love working with people who have an idea of what they like, but are willing to step outside of their comfort zone to achieve a designer look. The best part? From design concept (Amy and I met over a couple of weekends to finalize details) to the actual date of delivery (with the room being painted in between with a Sherwin Williams color inspired by our showroom) took less than two months. #happycustomer #happydesigner

Are you ready for a room makeover?

Bringing the outside in ...

watercolor landscape by Anne Rogers of Lynnfield Art Guild

Each spring I look forward to participating in “Art in Bloom,” the annual collaboration between the Village Home and Garden Club of Lynnfield and local artists. This year, I was inspired by the watercolor above painted by Anne Rogers. To me, the simple landscape was beautiful. With its expansive green lawn, it reminds me of one of the golf courses in town that whenever I drive past it, I vow to take up the sport just to enjoy a close up view of the immaculately landscaped grounds. 

I chose to combine a trio of orchid plants adorned with yellow twigs to represent the small patch of trees in the center of the painting. A small arrangement of green chrysanthemums in a silver vase placed in the foreground stand in for the evergreen bushes that dot the open field.

It seems as if my arranging style has become quite minimalist over the years, favoring groupings of same flowers and repetition of color. This is probably a result of my work schedule taken up more of my free time, but it is still a good example of how a simple flower can add beauty and drama without the fuss. Anyone can do this!

Along with bringing an arrangement for inside the library, I also had the job of decorating the front display window at the entrance of the building. Since our garden club is now a Home and Garden Club (membership has doubled!) I focused on showing ways to “bring the outside in” when decorating interiors. I brought one of my favorite prints from home and paired it with fresh lillies in a black vintage teapot. Wallcoverings, paint chips, fabric swatches and garden inspired objects filled the case. 

It was kind of a hodge-podge of design ideas, but in person I believe it looked a little more inspiring. I especially enjoyed being able to include origami birds folded in spring colored papers by my son Owen. Had to pay him $5, but it was worth it! Below are some of my nature inspired decorating ideas ...

Arts + Crafts style wall covering

from Victoria + Albert Museum

Paradise Flower Bluebird pillow

from Bassett Furniture

Woodlawn Stone linen designed by Sarah Richardson for Kravet

A recent window treatment project I designed with this fabric for a client

– see more on my Houzz profile page –

flower inspired paint colors from Sherwin Williams

White Dogwood, Azalea Flower, Coming up Roses

Lily by Sherwin Williams

Daffodil by Sherwin Williams

Daisy by Sherwin Williams

a bouquet of purples from Sherwin Williams

Obi Lilac, Radiant Lilac, Valiant Violet

origami art by Owen

grasscloth

How do you bring the outside in?