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!


My foyer Before  (This is a lesson to look beyond the decor when house hunting)


Goodbye, Carpet... Hello Wood!

Ahhhhh..... After


Another example of the painted risers... A bit of a "Southern Living" look or perhaps "Veranda"


If you are a "do it yourselfer", visit Stair Warehouse for a complete tutorial and if you are not... call me!

Until next time,
Traci

Images via: Moi, Mrs. White Walls, Custom Hardwoods, Stanford Stairs, Stair Doctor, Contour Stairs, Stair Warehouse
Thursday, June 17, 2010 Comments: 2
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The Reveal of the Mike Modano Cottage at Jonathan's Place!

The day has almost arrived! 
Our charity project through the Interior Design Society will be revealed and celebrated tomorrow!


As the President of the DFW IDS Chapter, I am so proud of my members and grateful to the vendors who have contributed to our charity project.  We have chosen to renovate the Mike Modano cottage at Jonathan's Place in Garland, which is “home-style” emergency shelter for abused, abandoned and neglected children who have been removed from their homes by Child Protective Services. The emergency shelter provides specialized services and 24-hour residential care to children age newborn to 17 years, and is the only emergency shelter in Dallas County that provides residential services for children in crisis who are under the age of 10.

Here are some sneak peeks:

Main Living Room Before


Main Living Room After!



The interior designers of IDS solicited donations from our generous trade resources and sold ads on our website to raise funds. Then we created and implemented a design plan to renovate and refresh the cottage which was showing some wear and tear. As a result, our group was able to install new hardwood floors, custom bedding and window treatments, hand painted murals, and new furniture. We feel honored to be able to brighten the lives of the children who pass through this shelter on their journey toward new and loving homes.

Nursery Before


Nursery After


Bedroom Before


Bedroom After


After a long workday...  but so happy with the results:)



Creating the "Tree of Life" for the playroom





Some of our chapter members with the Founder and CEO of JP... Lisa Matthews (next to me)



Here are the details for our Vendor Celebration tomorrow:

Date: Thursday, June 17, 2010


Time: 3:30-4:00 Press Reception

4:00 - 8:00 pm Thank You Showcase

Place: 6065 Duck Creek

Garland, Texas 75043

Our project would not have been possible without the generous donations from our industry partners, IDS advertisers and friends.  Special thanks goes to: Ashlynn Bourque with Sherwin Williams, Craig Favors with Inside Expressions, Kasmir Fabrics, ProSource Flooring, Leann Baker Photography, Missy Thornton, Damion Brooker, and muralist Heather Jennings.

Take a look at our IDS DFW chapter website for more info:


We hope that the newly-improved Mike Modano Cottage will cheerfully house many children who are hoping for a brighter future. We are very proud and honored to have participated in such a worthy effort.


More pics to come but until next time,

Traci

Images via: Moi and Leann Baker photography
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 Comments: 0
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Sassy Skirted Chairs!

Check out the sassy skirt on these chairs!  Love the pleats... it reminds me of my cheerleading skirts from back in the day-


This was a fun project with Mrs. Cave Dweller and we both were so tickled with the end result.  Yes, we have similar taste- which made the job even more fun.  She wanted something different in her kitchen nook so we paired the skirted chairs by Sam Moore along with COM fabric from Kasmir and Greenhouse with the custom banquette by Bentley Churchill (yes, you have seen it before!).  It just so happened that two of my clients went for this curved sofa/bench for their nooks at just about the same time.  As you can see, the fabrics definitely set them apart but the style for both is oh so chic!



The table is an ivory painted wash with a bit of distressing and pulls in the custom art by Elle Design. 

More pleats below:


Sofa from the Candice Olson collection

Pleats + Nailhead = Love


Hickory Chair



Monogrammed Slipcover


No worries with another slipcover


Pearson Beauty


Can't forget the ottoman... another must from Hickory Chair


Lastly, formal with casual works in this dining room

So, can you pull this look off in your own home or do you have to take it to the beach house???!!!

Until next time,
Traci
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 Comments: 2
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Quick Pic: Towels for Traci!

Just minding my own business, gathering items at Walmart for a BBQ and these pool
towels landed in my cart....



I'm not sure how it happened but I couldn't resist.... sooo up my alley.  They were a bit
steep for a Walmart towel at $18 each, however, they covet the Better Homes and
Gardens brand and they are huge!


Until next buy time,
Traci
Monday, June 7, 2010 Comments: 2
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The Banquette vs. Dr. Volleyball



After receiving a much sought after custom furniture piece from Bentley Churchill,
Dr. Volleyball, one of my sweet clients, woke up to this surprise on Mother's Day....


You see, her kids were in quite a sarcastic mood and decided to take her requests of "no spilling on the new banquette, no putting shoes on the new banquette, no fighting over the new banquette"... literally.  Actually, they probably thought they could eat peacefully at the table if they didn't worry about dropping food on the new furniture piece.  They even created rules-




What they didn't realize is that Dr. Volleyball and I chose the bench seat leather very carefully and did the "scratch" test a few times to be sure it would withstand the abuse of kids.  (They don't know it can just be wiped off:).


Hopefully, the newness of be able to eat dinner while sitting on a sofa (or sorts) has worn off and the girls have compromised on their seating schedule.  Even though the banquette does seat two, sisterly love must have gotten in the way!

(Do you blame her?  It's beautiful!)

Now for the before and after reveal of Dr. Volleyball's kitchen nook and family room!

Kitchen Nook Before


Kitchen Nook After


Family Room Before


Family Room After


A better view of the gorgeous window treatments!

A quick recap of the space- for the last few years the family room has been basically empty and has been used as a mock volleyball and basketball court.  Dr. Volleyball's husband thought that was just fine, but Dr. Volleyball was ready to make it a space for the family to enjoy with each other and friends.

A treat for me was having sooooo much space to fit a lot of furniture for everyone! There is no television in the room, so the focal point of the tube was not a consideration. We mixed and matched various fabrics and trimmings along with a lot of custom artwork to create a warm, hill country feel for their home.

There are so many favorites for me in this room...from the Sherwin Williams paint color, Burlap, on the walls and ceilings to the nailhead on the custom art panels flanking the fireplace to the cheetah fabric print on the banquette and valance cuffs.

What is your favorite element that draws your eye in?

Until next time,

Traci
Thursday, June 3, 2010 Comments: 2
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Adding Drama with Drapes to your Outdoor Space





Here is the inspiration for this week's Connell Interior's newsletter... a twist on our classic projects!  As noted in the ezine, we won't be changing our name to Connell Exteriors, but it sure was fun creating a room in the great outdoors. 

The newsletter provides tips on bringing lighting ideas to your backyard space, which only scratches the surface of ways to enhance your outdoor living area.  We'll get to the appliances and tech features another time and focus on a bit on an unexpected element... outdoor drapes!
     **sign up here to receive the newsletter: http://www.connellinteriors.com/

I do have to sadly admit that selecting the furniture to fill this space was one of the favorite parts of the process (and if only I could have added draperies... no go for the guy in the fam!)  If there is a tv, I'm sure window treatments are definitely prohibited... rats~

Outdoor drapes can:
  • add a touch of elegance to your space
  • create privacy
  • filter bright light and protect furniture from rain
  • add a disguise for areas you do not want seen
  • add flexibility by sliding to the side or removing when not needed

Remember the Sunbrella fabric I told you about in the first newsletter?


Pottery Barn Beauty


More affordable option... Target~


Weatherproof fringe option from Frontgate


Ballard Designs- love the green and black

Sheer Delight!

While you are thinking of which panels to purchase, don't forget the outdoor drapery hardware.  I just saw some at Bed, Bath and Beyond and also received an email with the following from the Finial Company.



Ladies, maybe try this while your guy is out of town!  You'll love it:)

Until next time,
Traci

images via: Moi, HGTV, Pottery Barn, Frontgate, Target.com, Ballard Designs, The Finial Company
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 Comments: 0
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