Nursery Werk

A woman contacted me after tracing my work on Oliver's Nursery back from a google search of "gray and white striped nursery."  Cool how those things work, huh?  Anyway, she and her hubster are expecting baby #1 - a girl, and have asked me to help them work some magic in the nursery.

Mostly mod magic, which I'm so delighted about, since I've never had the chance to worka nursery in modern tones.  These things tend to evolve, but here's where we're at so far:

I know so many of us are mood boarding-it these days - what have you got up your project sleeves?

Also, there's still time to register for the $500 stationery giveaway from 123Print.  Go HERE.  Come on, peeps, this is getting EMBARRASSING! ;)

*If you are interested, or know someone interested in my e-design services, please contact me at:  atexski@yahoo(dot)com

Downsizing and Questioning Authori-TAY

In a few months, we'll be moving from our spacious casa in Brasilia to an apartment in Rio.  Although the apartment is generous by Big City standards, it will mean a lot of downsizing for us. 

I'm nervous about moving with two, energetic kiddos into an apartment - and exasperated when everyone says, "Oh, you'll just go to the beach." Like it's a magic cure for the maladies of tight living quarters.  It might be. I'll find out.

What the move also means, though, is we'll be selling many of our household goods - keeping only what we really need and love.  I'm actually very excited about this part.  Right now, our furnishings are a mix of things we've inherited, cobbled with a few lower-end items we've had since our first home. I won't be able to make a lot of upgrades, but we will be trading in on some more space and taste-appropriate items.

I think I've got Ben on board to selling his Shaker-style dining table, and buying a Saarinen tulip table.  I'm really digging the oval shape set with more traditional chairs.

barrie benson via Domino

We have several traditional, but non-matching chairs that I'm thinking I can recover in the same fabric to pull it all together in a fun, eclectic way for our new place.  Because after all, Rio is nothing if not fun and eclectic.

Lonny

I recently did some window shopping to see a tulip table in person.  In general, household items in Brazil are much, much more expensive than they are in the States, so I figured I'd check them out here, but end up ordering one from the US.  

The salesladies at the shops stated the tables were "authentica," and they look spot-on to originals online. So I found it puzzling when the Brazilian prices were about 1/3 of the price you'd pay if you ordered a similar tulip table from a website like All Modern. (Dum da DUM)  I thought maybe the copyright laws were just more lenient here, and that they can claim the tables are authentic.

Good thing I've got a design-savvy (and legally-versed) Brazilian friend who explained that the worldwide copyright on Saarinen's design has expired, so that anyone can replicate it, and call it a tulip table.  If the dimensions and materials match the specifications of the designer's original, then it can be called "authentic."

Lonny

My own thinking as to why the authentic versions in the States are so much pricier is that they are still manufactured by Knoll - the company Saarinen originally worked with on the design.

Southern Living

So, there ya go.  

Brazilian Saarinen tables.

Almost free. 

Skonahem

In other Makes-Monday-Good news:  I found out some of my design work has been selected for a little e-glossy love.  Stoked doesn't even begin to explain my feelings.

Tom Scheerer

It's Monday - Let's do B&A's

It's a two-cupper kind of Monday for me, so how about some Before and After goodness? 

I've been working with my sister to get her formal living room properly zhushed before an upcoming shower she's hosting.  Can I just say right now how much it KILLS me not to be able to do this fun stuff in person?   Oh well, getting to be a part of putting together a great room is still rock 'n roll.

Wanna peek? (Pardon the iPhone pics)

Wingback Before - Sad stuffing, and almost-coulda-shoulda-been-kinda-cool Missoni-esque fabric....

...and After... Make-a-me-SO-happy coral and purply-pink ikat!

X-benches Before (sorry, no real-life photo) - Now, you know I'm not the kind to turn a side-eye to most anything animal print, but these bargain X-benches needed to look....well....not so bargain-y....

So, they found some love in the form of high-quality velvet, and extra tufting.  Oh, the plushness of it all!

What's pulling this all together, you ask?  Why, a giant, colorful print by Cozamia, of course!

Yep, Monday's lookin' better, already!

Floating Art Project

I've been itching to frame out a piece of art with a simple, acrylic frame.  It's such a clean aesthetic that can really showcase artwork in a modern way.  Jenny posted not too long ago about finding acrylic frames for smaller works, but I was thinking something on a larger scale...

We gifted my sister and BIL an original painting from Brazil, and while we were visiting them, it gave me the perfect chance to test the acrylic-framing waters.

I took the artwork to a local glass and mirror shop, and asked if they could cut two pieces of acrylic to "sandwich" the artwork between.  *Note*  I anticipated "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" looks, so I took the above inspiration photo for explanation purposes. ;)

I had them cut 1/4" (rather than 1/8") pieces for a more substantial look, and drill holes at each corner.  Since I wanted a floating look, I had them size the sheets to allow about a two-inch border around the painting.

To hang the painting, I had to enlist Ben's help (of course!).  He had to enlarge the drill holes a bit to allow for the brass screws we selected to hang the art. 

If you try this, be slooooow and careful, so you don't crack the acrylic!

Next, we cleaned the acrylic of all fingerprints.  He had a little "help."  Note to self:  next time, use latex gloves!

We used double-sided tape on the back of the painting to make sure it wouldn't slip during the hanging process.

We secured it all with brass screws through the drilled holes - straight into the wall (using drywall anchors).  ......aaaaand DONE!

I'm lovin' it!

Nursery Design Comes Alive

Over the last nine months, I've been working with some favorite long-distance clients to design the nursery for their first baby, Oliver, who is due any minute.  E-design leaves a lot of interpretive "wiggle room," and often, designers don't have a chance to see the space as envisioned.  Being able to see a design come to life is incredibly rewarding, so I couldn't be more excited with how beautifully they realized my ideas for the Little Guy's special space. 

The finishing touches have been made, and now, all it needs is a special little occupant!

We were going for a clean, subtle masculinity.

We commissioned the abstract art from blogstress extraordinaire and up-and-coming-artist, Jenny from MFAMB.

 

I couldn't resist sending them the tiny moccasins, handmade in Brazil.

The original design board.

I am currently accepting clients for e-design.  Please contact me, Alison at atexski@yahoo(dot)com for rates and information.

My DIY Agate Lamps

I'm dipping my toe back into the blogging waters with this little project I've been wanting to share for some time.  I'm sure I'm not alone in obsessing over the gorgeous lamps we've all seen made of semi-precious stone, agates and geodes.  Bad News:  those things are crazy expensive.  Good News:  The area of Brazil where we live is geode mecca - where dozens of quarries and mines are found.

 

 I found some lamp-making kits through this seller on Ebay, knowing that with some awesome rocks, I could make my own glamazon lamps.  On our last day trip to a little mining town, I snagged two, large (about 5 lbs each) amethysts for a really reasonable price.  

I gilded the base of the rock with paint, and painted the lamp base red per Ben's suggestion.  I had planned to go boring-black on the base, but am so glad I went with my hubster's opinion, as I love how the purple-red-gold color combo amps up the glam factor.  Dontcha hate it when spouse's are right? ;)

As you can see, the rock sits in front of the lamp pole, which isn't quite the perfect-professional look I'd like to have, but it makes for a very simple project, and overall, gives the look I was going for.  The lampshade still needs a little zhushing, too.

Yes, my bedside table needs some serious styling help, but you get the idea.  A+ for effort, right?

Hacked by Hague

Well, it only took me about a month, but I can finally say I'm finito with the hack of my old, Ikea media cabinet.  Thanks to the generosity of Kathy from My Interior Life, who sent me a color-match of Hague Blue,  I was able to have my own Brazilian version made.  The paint mixer here was so "impressed" with my obsession dedication to having it just right that he renamed my custom color "Azul Americana." I'll take that as a compliment. ;)

I also subbed in the same gorgeous, brass pulls we used on my sister's hack.  They play very well with Hague.

The space above the odd-height cabinet will be earning some new artwork from Miss Jenny. 

 

Loving that reflective finish SO. MUCH.

...and since we're starting Halloween weekend, I'll go ahead and show you the Before again - it's kinda SKEEEERY!

Have a Spooktacular weekend, Peeps!

It's Saturday: Making and Doing

It's Saturday, and I have two things of note:
1) Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins. Make Them. Trust.

Follow the recipe at my food blog - here

2) Still have this going on....and oh, it is SO good!

On this Week's Agenda...

• Finish this God-forsaken project....

Anyone wanna guess what I'm attempting?

• List these finials (and perhaps some of their friends) for sale.

Since you all liked them so much, I think you need some to make your lamps sing. No Etsy shop or anything fancy just yet...

• Stalk our postal center in the hopes that my Hague samples will arrive, so I can create something like this:

Mfamb

• Begin Life Coaching sessions - I SO need them, and I'm psyched!
• Style some areas in my casa to prep for portfolio pics - Yes, peeps, MLHP is growin' UP!
  
  
  

I'm probably over-reaching, especially since Ben is out of town this week, but hey, I'm aiming high.

The Little Paint Swatch That Could*

Recall that I've decided to paint our ugly, old Ikea media cabinet, and I want to go Hague Blue. I tend to become very one-track-minded when it comes to these sorts of things. NOT a great disposition to have when you live overseas, and the product you desire is only available in The USA and Canada.
I think by the time it's all said and done, this project might qualify as an Act of God, because that's practically what measures are going into finding the closest match to "Hague." You see, this deep blue has many faces....

In a flat or satin finish, she appears fairly straightforward - marine-like blue with maybe a hint of gray.

Source: google.com via Alison on Pinterest

...but, gloss her up, and she takes on mutations of teal.

Source: google.com via Alison on Pinterest

Nimble little minx, isn't she?

I won't go into the finer details of the attempts I've already made to find a close match, but let's just say they do things a wee bit differently in the paint world of Brazil, and it hasn't been successful.
So, I did what all desperate bloggers do - made a plea to Stateside blogstress amigas, Kathy and Jenny - who both have first-hand knowledge of The Hague.
According to Jenny, Benjamin Moore makes two dead-ringers for The Hague:

So, armed with swatches of all three, as well as another from a Sherwin Williams colormatch, I will march down to my local paint store, and demand my right to some Haaaggguuueeee!

Oh, and I'm pretty sure an 'interpretation' of this painting needs to go above aforementioned media cabinet.

Source: jaclynpaige.tumblr.com via Alison on Pinterest

Bottom Line: If I can design to my tastes in Brazil, I can design ANYWHERE!

*Post title coined by Kathy