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!

Hacking Update: That's more like it! *Updated with paint color

My sister ahem, client sent me pics of the improved color of her dining room buffets.

Remember, these are Ikea's Edland two-drawer chests - which have good lines to begin with.

But, nothing much beats a few coats of high-glossy plus extra lacquer for funsies. Oh, yeah, and some stepped-up hardware. **The paint color is "Daring" by Sherwin Williams - and it was professionally sprayed. We found the Indian hardware at a local antique co-op.**

The first go-round was a little pinky-peach....

While our goal was for true coral. Check it with the chevron kilim and fuchsia velvet.  Looks amazing against the wallcolor, too.  BTW, the walls are painted in Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray.

Some finishing touches are in store, but I'd say this room is well on her way to outright fabulousness.

Almost...but not quite

Well, I'm back home in Brazil, and I'm bummed to say we weren't quite able to wrap up my sister's dining room. It's coming together so beautifully with the glam hot pink velvet on the chairs, but the matching buffet situation gave us fits.

The Ikea chest we planned to hack was out of stock for a few weeks, but we did end up snagging a couple. Then, our paint selection came back more peach than the coral we envision....

However, check out hardware yumminess!

**A few people have asked/commented on the hardware. We bought it from a local antique Co-op that carries reproduction pulls, knobs, etc. It is heavy brass, and stamped "Made in India" if that might help you.

Coming soon....coral glory!

We Interrupt this program...for pink velvet and thrift goodness

I didn't think you'd mind me popping in (and bumping the H spot feature 'til tomorrow) for a little update on my sister's dining room - my project numero uno while I'm Stateside.

She snagged these Chippendale chairs a month or so ago, but clearly the pastel plaid fabric wasn't working with our overall theme of I'm not Laura Ashley.

Meet pink velvet goodness.

Over that slightly-rugged kilim chevron. Tell me about it, Stud!

Then there's her bathroom vanity stool.

Before: Disney called. They want their Beauty and the Beast dog back.

After: I'm trying to figure out a way to steal it from her without her noticing...

THEN: Saturday's Thrifting Session took us to the Habitat store where she scored this wingback for forty clams.

It has a bright future.

As for me, I snagged this pair of mondo lamps. Hard to tell here, but they're actually mercury glass - a bronze color. Not sure where I'll use them just yet, but I thought they were different, and I couldn't pass up the ten dollar price tag.

*SupportyourHabitatStore, Peeps!*

**Disclaimer: Wish we could take credit for the reupholstering, but we left it to the pros.**

Lots more Little H Spot guest posts still to come. We're enjoying plenty of family and friend time in (crazy sweltering) Texas, but I'll check in periodically with project updates.

First Lamp Update

That was quick, right? (Lamp gods are smiling on me this week)

So, we went from this...

To this...Ben said the shade isn't quite long enough - he was promptly asked to leave the room.

A little hasty, and probably not permanent styling. (Little paws abound at Casa G)

Injection of color and tad of drama with height of lamp = goodness
Terrible lighting for impromptu photo session = arrggghhhh

Next up on this vignette: cooler fabric for that slipper chair.

Turning Vision into Reality...

I love receiving emails like these, with pics of a room I've helped envision becoming reality...

In this case, my sister's living room. The tufted linen sofa arrived last week, and this weekend, she scored an enviable Moroccan tray table at the Warrenton Antiques Festival in Texas.

I'd say she's interpreting my (basic) design board rather perfectly, wouldn't you?

Finally....Isla's Nursery

I figured since Isla will be six months old next week, it was time for me to post pics of her nursery. It's not perfect, and certainly not perfectly styled, but, who am I kidding? More than likely, it will never be. For now, it's a pretty and pleasant space for our baby girl.

Almost everything is on its second tour of duty, although a couple pieces have been freshened up with new paint or upholstery.

I'm so glad we kept the map of Paris artwork in this room, rather than move it with Avery's bed - it works soooo much better!

There's just some things I have to live with - like hideous air-conditioning units - but the floors sure are nice.

Reupholstering the glider in the gray ikat, and adding the yellow pouf in lieu of the standard ottoman certainly helped the scene.

My changing table is a repurposed, small buffet. In Avery's nursery, it was white. For this time 'round, it got a gray paint/brass hardware facelift.

I may tire of the wall color at some point, but right now, I'm so in love with it! In the morning, it's fresh and crisp, but as night falls, it takes on a jewel-box quality. (Don't be hatin' on my sad lampshade - it's on the to-do list)

I just finished up the "art installation" above the crib the other day. Remember that I'd been inspired by de Gournay wallpaper, so I wanted to reference Chinoiserie, as well as giving something interesting for Isla to see. Not sure I have a calling as an artist, but you get the idea. Do you think the canvas should be a different color? Ben says deep blue might look better...

Did'ya notice anything else??

Tee Hee... that's right, the munchkin all this fuss is about! Little bit worth it! ;)

Design Dilemma Sources: Jana's Room

Shortly after I posted the update on Jana's room, I realized I hadn't sourced a thing, and several of you have commented or emailed wanting some deets....

That Faburlous (typo - I'm keepin' it!) Wall Color: Benjamin Moore - Harbor Gray
You all seemed to love it in Jana's room, and you've probably seen it before...

design-crisis

nest egg

Fabric for armchairs: Calico Corners Key WestMid-Century console (found via Dallas Craigs) in the sitting room nook: repainted Krylon Sun Yellow

Gray silk ikat accent pillows: from this Ebay vendor, and I can just about guarantee you won't find better prices for this look.

French Bulldog silhouette: Mod-Dog.com (sooooo ordering one for my sister and BIL!)

Sunburst Mirror above mantel: Jana's own DIY version - see here