Tag Archives: Living Room

Before & After: Hell’s Kitchen, NY

13 Tuesday May 2014

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I’m feeling a little nostalgic today.  I’m an LA native and it’s been great being back home, but I definitely miss New York.  So… for my first before and after, I’m showcasing my Hell’s Kitchen apartment

BEFORE:

White walls and parquet floors… yikes!

Blinds hiding a pretty good view

DURING:

I was having a blast… my husband, not so much

AFTER:

We went with a light grey on the walls with a fabulous plum accent wall.  The shelves (ikea) came with a back board, but I choose not to attach them in order to let the plum show through.

When living in a 670 sq. ft. 1 bedroom in New York, rooms have to do triple duty.  I put a sideboard behind the couch to separate the living and dining room and added a small desk too… oh, and did I mention the view?  Love!

Ciao for Now,

♥♥ Vicky

Original Post: 3/15/2012

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Design Poll: Too Bold or Just Right?

10 Wednesday Apr 2013

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It’s always fun to go for a bold design in a room, but is there such a thing as going too bold?  What about painting the walls of your living room black???

I’ve come across the living room below quite a few times of late in my scouring of Pinterest (you can find me here).

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I’m curious to know what you think…

Before & After: Living Room

29 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by in Before & After, Room Design

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This past weekend was quite productive, most notably I finished re-designing our living room which has been a work in progress.  We were having our first BBQ of the season, so it was good motivation to finish my first project.

BEFORE: Bland room with white walls and vertical blinds… yikes!

You may recall from my Modern Elegance post, I had a general style and color palette in mind (and I knew I wanted a sunburst mirror :)).  My goal was to transform the room playing off of the original charm but adding vibrance, elegance and a little rustic, ethnic charm…

AFTER:

So… how did I do? I’m sure I’ll keep making minor changes over time, but I’m pretty happy with the outcome.  Now… on to the next room!

Series: Venice Garden & Home Tour – Picture Walls

12 Saturday May 2012

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A must-have design element in any home is a ‘picture wall’, and that’s what we explore in part 6 of our 7-day series for the Venice Garden & Home Tour. Whether it’s family photos, abstract art, or even a skate board…, picture walls add interest to a room and create a focal point.  Here are 5 examples that each tell their own story.

  • By painting the wall a flat charcoal color, the artwork on this picture wall really pops.  The addition of a skateboard takes this picture wall to the next level turning it into a true art installation… how fabulous!

  • This picture wall has a casual feel.  The homeowner installed 3 narrow shelves allowing her to display a ton of photos overlapping on one another

  • A mid-century modern vignette, this picture wall is simple and succinct.  It has a clear point of view transporting the viewer back to the 1960’s.

  • This picture wall is both organic and eclectic.  By concentrating the photos in the center of the wall and expanding horizontally, it creates a timeline feel with no one picture dominating the space.

  • To really make an impact in a room and add interest to a blank white wall, this homeowner installed 3 large-scale vibrant prints.  In contrast to the more organic example above, this installation is structured but still has a ton of personality.

What’s Next: Tomorrow we wrap up our 7-day series and I’ve decided to save the best example’s of Venice’s eclectic style for last.  Stay Tuned!

Series: Venice Garden & Home Tour – Interiors

09 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by in Decor, Furniture, Room Design

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In part 3 of the series, we head inside to check out some interiors.  Here are my top 10 picks (in no particular order) with a little tidbit of what I loved most about each.

Love: Organic wood table & supple grey velvet upholstery

Love: Library focal wall that mixes books & art

Love: Mod vibe with fun pops of color

Love: 2 words – Hot Pink!

Love: Vibrant art that makes this fireplace a clear focal point

Love: Modern furniture with pops of color

Love: Open floorplan with 180 degree views

Love: Eclectic sensibility with black & white cow-hide rug

Love: Mid-century modern table and light fixture

Love: Mixing of colors and the fabulous hexagonal coffee table

What’s next: In part 4 of the series, we highlight a key decor element! Don’t worry, I won’t keep you in the dark too long, just stay tuned for tomorrow’s post.

The fairest of them all…

10 Tuesday Apr 2012

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There’s something about mirrored furniture that’s just so chic.  It has the ability to add sophistication, glamour and elegance all at once.  From a practical standpoint, mirrored furniture makes a room brighter by reflecting light, and adds just a little bit of sparkle. While I don’t recommend too many pieces in one room, having one key piece can really make a room.  Best of all, you can find mirrored furniture to suit any design style. Here are just a few options for you to… reflect on 😉

Traditional Glamour

Mirrored Coffee Table – Horchow, $569

Mid-century Inspired

Mirrored Console Table – Crate and Barrel, $699

Sophisticated Contemporary

Mirrored Buffet – Z Gallerie, $1,199

Eclectic  Chic

Mirrored Brass Side Table – Overstock.com, $210

Modern Simplicity

Mirrored Parsons Desk – West Elm, $599

Trend Alert: Southwest Style

19 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by in Decor, Room Design, Shopping

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I found this rug while browsing Gilt Home and I love it!  It’s so unique and is a prime example of the southwest trend I’ve been seeing so much of lately.

Southwest style tends to have lots of deep, rich colors like the blues and golds in the rug.  It’s often also associated with shades of mauve and turquoise, but sometimes those feel a bit too literal.  It’s all about natural and organic elements, so leather, wood and brass prevail… along with anything in an earth tone.  Most of all, it’s about casual comfort and warmth!

I decided to challenge myself to “furnish” a southwest inspired room… and, since I found my inspiration on Gilt, I designed the whole room with items available on Gilt Home (no, they’re not paying me for this post, it just happens to be one of my favorite sites!) So, here it is… what do you think?

Runner– Nourison│Rug– Nourison│Starburst Mirror– Mirror Image │Kanishka Decorative Pillow– Anichini │Baroque Gold Leaf Floor Lamp– Arteriors Home │Ottoman- no longer available │Sofa– A. Rudin │Trapeze Coffee Table– Central Station │Angelic Bottle Vase– Joe Cariati │Agate Slice– Brenda Houston │Brass Sculpture – Arteriors Home │Leather Reclining Chair– Modern Milano

Before & After: Hell’s Kitchen, NY

15 Thursday Mar 2012

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I’m feeling a little nostalgic today.  I’m an LA native and it’s been great being back home, but I definitely miss New York.  So… for my first before and after, I’m showcasing my Hell’s Kitchen apartment

BEFORE:

White walls and parquet floors… yikes!

Blinds hiding a pretty good view

DURING:

I was having a blast… my husband, not so much

AFTER:

We went with a light grey on the walls with a fabulous plum accent wall.  The shelves (ikea) came with a back board, but I choose not to attach them in order to let the plum show through.

When living in a 670 sq. ft. 1 bedroom in New York, rooms have to do triple duty.  I put a sideboard behind the couch to separate the living and dining room and added a small desk too… oh, and did I mention the view?  Love!