A Reversible Headboard!

I've been working on a bedroom makeover for my client, Daisey, 

and have been looking for a new headboard. 

(I don't want to give the entire makeover away since it's not finished yet, 

but here is her current bed in it's repositioned place in the room.  

Note the head of the bed is at a double doorway into her dressing area, 

so I need something with some height, that can work from both sides 

since you'll be able to see it coming and going.....)

And thanks to my friend, Jeannie, who's liquidating her antique shop,  

I scored this great mahogany headboard. 

Here's what it looked like yesterday:

Yes, the wood is in fine shape as is.  

I just don't like it....

So here goes.......

I painted it in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Pure White,

 then distressed and waxed.

This is the new bedding I picked up today.

But here's the fun part:  

On the back side of the headboard, I stapled foam in the insert, 

and then upholstered with this pink pinstripe fabric 

that I cut from a pair of drapes.  

Gimp edging came from Hobby Lobby.

(The headboard is just propped here with the bedding.........

It's actually still sitting in the middle of my living room.  

I hope to deliver it tomorrow.)  

The question is...

Which is the front, and which is the back?  

Decisions, decisions.  

I say, what could be better than a reversible headboard!!!

Stay tuned for the full makeover!

Planning a client's move to a smaller home

I have been working with a client and friend, Nancy, 

who is planning a big change in her life!

She is moving from a large home out in the boonies -Studley, VA, 

to be exact- to a condo in the fan of Richmond.

So exciting!!!!

Nancy is a smart cookie...VERY organized....

She knows when she needs help, 

and she's very methodical about the process.

So she brought me in WAY BEFORE the move 

to help her determine what pieces she wants to keep, 

what she needs to purchase, what can be rehabbed, etc.

First, I go with Nancy to the new condo.

Here's Nancy in her new pad.

(These furnishings belong to the previous owner.)

Nancy and I went room by room, discussing layout, function,etc.

For instance, this home has no formal dining room, 

just a small dining area as part of the living room.

So it was important to find something that would make sense

in her new space.  

And we did - I found an awesome

dropleaf gate leg table on craigslist (similar to this one) that will work perfectly.

It can act as a console table when not being used for dining...

and when she has dinner guests, it can be opened up for adequate seating.

Next, let's move down to the bedrooms.

Here's the master bedroom.  

We discuss furniture, window treatments, pillows, etc. 

After seeing the wall color and space,

 it will be so much easier for me to do a fabric/furniture search.

Here's the bath. Peekaboo! 

I always take lots of photos for reference later.

Definitely need some storage.

Check out the spiral staircase to the bottom floor!

Downstairs is a whole 'nother world!

Office/den space, full bath and private bedroom.

Amazing!

Okay, so next up, we go to Nancy's existing home, 

and go room by room to see what we can use,

what we would rather see replaced, etc.

Here's the sofa......I would REALLY love to find something lighter in style and color 

and less masculine and bulky...I'll keep an eye out..

Media cabinet. Ugly but functional and I can definitely

make this look better! Keep.

Cute little storage cabinet. Keep. I'll paint.

Nancy wants to possibly use this cedar chest as a bench in her

billiard room....or maybe we can use in the guest bedroom 

as a mock "window seat" with cushion. Keep.

Not liking the look of these, but they are quite comfy.

As my friend Patty Anne can attest to. And they swivel.

Keep. I'll reupholster.

This sweet little chair was Nancy's grandmother's, so she

definitely wants to redo this for her bedroom. Keep.

This sweatshirt....definitely NOT going....chuckle..

So, let's get started on some transformations!!!!! Remember this?

I painted it in a combo of Annie Sloan Chalk Paints in Old White for the outside...

And versailles on the inside.

I found these chunky porcelain/brass handles at Hobby Lobby.

This is going to the left of the fireplace in the new living room 

to hold all the AV equipment...

 

I diligently checked craigslist daily for a sofa replacement, and look what I found!!

 

This amazing Restoration Hardware sofa in belgian linen.

Oh my god, this is going to look SO great in Nancy's new living room!!!

You'll have to stay tuned for the final makeover....

Tiger Oak Chair Spruce Up

Look at this great old chair I scored today during a thrift store pop-in.

 Yes, in its current state, it's a disaster...But with a little clean up...it could shine.

It's quite comfortable, and has great tiger oak rolled arms.......

Yes it has some caning issues, and a lot of dirt.

The minute I got home, I pulled it out of the car and got to work.

 I gave all the wood a thoroughly cleaning. 

It was filthy and once I washed down all the wood, 

you could really see the golden hue of the oak.

After it dried, I gave everything a nice rub down

 with Howards Restor-a-Finish in Golden Oak.

 I removed the cushion and all the old fabric and foam, 

added new foam and batting, and then upholstered 

in a grain sack type fabric in thick oatmeal linen with blue stripes.

These pillows were some of my late night projects this week.

 I ripped out all the old broken caning under both arms. I like the open look.

 Beautiful wood detail.  

Yes, there's still a small hole in the back caning,

but pillows hide it quite nicely, 

so I'm leaving it just as it is for now.

Can you believe it??? 

A SheShe chair makeover that didn't involve painting!!!!!

LOVE this chair..

On a sewing roll......Slipcovers and pillows...

The machine has been cranking over here at the SheShe ranch.

Fresh up,

one slipcovered wing back chair........

Here's an "in progress" shot:

Here it is completed.

 Detail of piping and little buttons I added below the arms. 

 Next up, a couple of pillows I made from old feed sacks.

 Aren't these KILLER? 

I did these for my client, Tara, of 2 Cool Chicks.  

How appropriate! 

Especially this one!

And this little primitive bench is screaming for attention!

So I gave it some! I turned it into a little stool.

I painted the frame in ASCP Pure White. And I

added foam, batting and upholstered the top.

This is some of my all time favorite upholstery fabric.

It's thick and hardy....

I added four Buffalo Nickel nailheads to the corners.

 I've been waiting for the perfect place to use these!

They're from UFab.

 And the finishing touch: 

A little numeral enamel plaque that I nailed to the frame.

How perfect they all look together.

But alas, I must split up this family.

The chair is my client, Patty Anne's.

The pillows are Tara's.

And the footstool...is FOR SALE.  $95.