Classic with a Twist: Foyer

My Dining Room: Revisited

March 5th was when I saw this fabric for the first time and created my very first blog post. If you remember, I knew it was the one, not for a client... but for me!

I left both Greenhouse fabrics on the chair for contemplation for a month and

finally pulled the trigger 6 weeks ago....

and they turned out perfectly!

Check out the beautiful detail-

Yes, it costs a little extra to add details, but look at the WOW! factor on this panel edge!

The braid is from Kasmir and is a showstopper!

I didn't stop there and continued to the top of the stairs...

I have been dying to put this cornice board design in a client's home, but no bites yet...

(my phone will start ringing off the hook after this post!)

Easy peasy... you can even do it yourself with a cornice board kit,

faux crocodile leather and nailhead trim.

Follow these directions for a quick cornice board fix-

While I don't like to "theme" my rooms, there are some commonalities in the foyer

which actually provides continuity. Not only do the colors flow from the dining

to the living room to the foyer, but my current "thing" for nailhead appears quite often!

First on the cornice board-

Second on the bench-

Third on the dining room chairs-

Fourth on the living room sofa-

Fourth on the artwork-

(I even have nailhead in my kitchen backsplash!)

Here is the current pic of my foyer with new custom artwork from La Montage

Ozzy matches the bench, so he got to stay:)

Close ups:

So for now, foyer is officially finished and you will see the other two rooms soon!

How did I do???

Until next time,

Traci

*images via Moi

Tuesday, August 3, 2010 Comments: 7

Iron Balusters: Right for You?

We have winded down at Mrs. White Wall's house and one of the finishing touches has been the replacement of her white staircase balusters to iron. I know this is a "Dallas" thing and it is almost a must in new builds in the North Dallas area... so those of you who are trying to update- here's another project for you to save for!

The real "Before" of the staircase

Here is the in between phase: New patterned carpet on the stairs and hardwoods installed

After: Simple and Elegant

The crowning touch will be the restaining of the wood banister to match the floor...

Beautiful with the dining room fixture

Stunning with the new foyer fixture!

A few tips for you:

When thinking of adding iron balusters to your existing stairway, you must consider your design style when selecting which spindle you will use. Mrs. White Walls has classic, traditional decor with an European flair so the simpler selection is a good one. If your home is more Old World, you may choose a baluster a bit more ornate (and what I call affectionately "goopy").

Another decision... color? Look around and see what metal finishes you have for light fixtures

Of course, the more to it, the more out of your pocket:)

Nice combo... busy with a break!

A modern touch

Disclaimer: Not all Dallas homes warrant this look!!! When we redid our house, I was going for a classic, transitional feel, so I opted not to replace the balusters, but accentuate the white instead. I'm happy with this look and happy to be a bit different... that's okay, you know!