Workspace/ Retail Progress

OMG I am ready for the weekend. This has been a hectic week! I've been coaching Con-Man's soccer practices (Alone I may add since the head coach has been out of town), been a woodworking bad @ss, and just been kicking butt in general. ;)

I've also been working on the Retail/Workspace project I have talked about before. SInce this is something I am working on solo, mainly to grow my portfolio, it's been hard to get motivated to put time in on it when I'd rather just veg out and watch TV. I've refined the floor plan, drew up some preliminary elevations, and working on my SketchUp skills. For those who don't know SketchUp is a 3D modeling program. Check it out!

Here is an overall view of the space looking down from above:

On the left hand side of the picture is the "work area". Where artisans can come and build and design their products to sell. There are large work tables along the exterior of the space and a high top table for computer or office type work. There is a conference room, break room, office, and storage as well. There is still a lot to be added- shelving, detail, color, and other furniture.

The more interesting part of the space right now is the retail area on the right hand side. This area is designed for the artisans to sell their wares to the public. Basically they built and create their products to sell in the work area then sell it in the front!

I still need to add more furniture for display but for now I've started designing the check out counter, the large wooden columns that separate the retail area from the display window, and a large display wall wit built in shelving. Here's a closer look:

Here's an elevation view of the display wall. It is covered in sough wood slats, has display shelving popping out of the wall for small sale items, and large shelves built into the wall for large sale items.

And finally an exterior view looking in through the large glass windows:

I'm no SketchUp expert but I've been having fun practicing and honing my skills. What do you think so far? Do you ever work on things just for fun or for practice?

All in The Family

This summer we made the trek down to Louisiana for my mom's side of the family's annual Family Reunion. Now my my grandmothers (my mom's mom) hails from a family of 10 brothers and sisters. And my mom herself has 5 brothers and sisters. So you can imagine that this Family Reunion is serious business. They do it every year and we take up a whole hotel for the weekend. This is the first time I have made it back in 3 years.

We have a family talent show, 

Connor (in the whale shirt) singing with his Cousins

games and art for kids, 

golf and nightly card tournaments for the adults and an all around good time. 

Hubs playing Bourre` with the fam

The one thing that always impresses me is the artistic talent that runs in the family. I've already mentioned before that my mom is one who inspired me and encouraged my creative side. On top of that....

One of my second cousins; Hanna Lane, is a soon to be famous artist (if she isn't already!). I'm currently saving my Birthday. Christmas, Anniversary gift to purchase one of her paintings.

My cousin Brandy is incredibly craft with tiles and paint.

My Uncle does amazing ink drawings.

Some of his French Quarter Drawings

And come to find out that one of my second Uncles is also a furniture designer. He says he just "dabbles" in wood work but looking at this awesome Cherry side table (that I was fortunate enough to win at our Family Raffle) I beg to differ. 

Sadly my lovely table is residing at my parents house at the moment. I wasn't planning on winning a table so we didn't have room for it on the ride home. Hopefully we can pick it up in the next month or so before my mom claims it as her own.

What talents does your family have?

A Little Bit of Audrey in My Life

A while back, well more than a while it's been several months; I won a contest for a hand sketched portrait of Audrey Hepburn from Fall Into London's Etsy Shop

I wasn't sure where to hang it until inspiration struck the other day. Audrey Hepburn isn't only known for her famous movie roles but also for her inspirational saying and quotes. I thought it would be nice to create a little inspiration vignette on my wall in the bath room. I searched online for some of my favorite Audrey quotes and framed them with the sketch.

The Quotes read- "Walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."

"As you get older you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, and one for helping others."

"The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul."

I like waking up in the mornings and looking and reflecting on these ideas. I also added some pictures of the kiddos and a sketch that my Uncle did of a cafe in New Orleans- I'm surrounding myself with all my favorite things!

And did you notice that Sa-Weet detail on the Audrey frame?

It was one of my thrift store finds from last week! It looked like this remember?

I painted it glossy black and sealed it with laquer. I like the moody vibe it has now- no more brown town!

Have a Happy and Inspirational Monday Everyone!

Color Meaning: Pink

I'm back with another Color Meaning In Design ~ This week it's Pink!

Like it's cousin red it packs a punch when used in the right shade. You may be someone who seeks out new experiences and surroundings if you use a bold shade of this color in your home. Whatever the reason is you've chosen pink for your home; it's a color that makes itself known and will not be ignored!

Eclectic Bedroom by New York Media And Blogs ABRAMS

Sofa in Front of a Window?

Good Morning All! I hope everyone had a good MLK Day. We spent the day in OKC taking Con-Man to the Science Museum, eating a real resturants and overall relaxing; hence this day late blog post.

Before we left town I was helping a friend with furniture layout ideas for a new house they are moving into. Mainly the living and bedrooms. In her bedroom she was hoping to put the bed in front of the window, but was worried that it would look weird or that there was some rule against it. I told her no fear! Lots of people put their bed in front of a window and have it look good- check out this post I did a while back on placing a bed in front of a window.

My First Ever Furniture Auction!

I don't know what most of you did on New Years Day but I spent most of my time at my first furniture auction!! Yes, even in our tiny town of Altus, OK there is an auction house. This particular one has auctions every month; but New Years Day is their biggest. People come from all over the place (Texas, Arizona, ect.) to check it out.

Some More Bedroom Dreaming

I've been playing around with Olioboard lately. I had signed up for it way back in the day- like when it first came out- and never really did anything on it since.

Lately I've had ideas for our bedroom floating around in my head; and the only way to get my mind off something is to get it onto paper. Enter Olioboard~

A Legitimate Reason as to Why My Husband Thinks I'm nuts

I have a problem; I'm the first to admit it. It's a furniture problem- I change my mind about it a lot. The should really have a support group for people like me. Furniture-Aholics Anonymous. 

Back to the issue at hand- why my husband thinks I'm nuts. In the past I've brought home questionable pieces of furniture. These orange chairs for example:

(Special Update on These Coming Soon!)

Frank Gehry "Makes It Right" In New Orleans

In Design School Frank Gehry was and still is one of my favorite architects. When we were in Seattle I had to go see his Experience Music Project just so I could say I have been to and seen one of his buildings. (Unfortunately on that trip my camera crapped out and I lost all photos...) 

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His envelope pushing style and design gets a lot of praise and a lot of criticism. Either way when I heard he had designed a "Make It Right" Home for Hurricane Katrina Victims I had to check it out! "Make It Right" is the charity started by Brad Pitt to help Hurricane Katrina victims in the Ninth Ward build new housing. Local architects and designers throughout Louisiana, along with a lot of nationally known architects have have been donating time and resources to build new, affordable, green homes for the residents to move into.

Gehry hasn't designed many homes in his career so this is kind of a big deal. The home he designed for New Orleans is in the vernacular style of southern Louisiana joined with his personal style. 


I think it's pretty cool looking!

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Homeowners get to choose their own exterior colors of the home. This one is a duplex and both homeowners choose bright fun colors; both from Benjamin Moore's Natura and Aura zero- VOC line. It's said that Brad Pitt encourages this and all the Make It Right homes and bold and colorful.

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The interior seems pretty simple. Materials for the home are Green and costs are kept down. Each home is supposed to cost about $150,00- $200,000 and homeowners pay what they can toward the house. I'm not sure if materials are donated or purchased. The flooring is made from postindustrial recycled content.


Windows are abundant throughout the home. Natural daylight was important to have according the Gehry.

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This home has 4 balconies for each home owner including a rood deck. Snazzy! The solar panels and geothermal energy heating and cooling systems keep the energy costs low- I believe one homeowner said her energy bill is only $25 a month!

I also found this video explaining more about the house- enjoy!

I love the outside, the style and all those balconies! Awesome! The wood flooring is beautiful and I love that it is green. The kitchen is pretty bare but that's expected since costs are kept low. 

So what do you think? Do you totally dig it or can you live without it? 

Bedroom Styles & Bedroom Dreaming

These past few weeks (months actually) I've been diligently working on both of my boys new bedrooms. I had fun coming up with inspiration, looking for sources and ideas, then coming up with an implementing a plan.

I wish the same could be said for our master bedroom. It hasn't changed since we got married- in each house we keep putting the same furniture and accessories in the same sort of layout and go with it. I'm not sure why this is. Because no one really sees our bedroom but us so I don't feel as pressured to work on it? Maybe because we have a queen bed and I'm dreaming of owning a king- so why buy new bedding now when I might have to buy a larger set in the future? Or maybe I'm just uninspired? Or maybe I like to many different styles??

Whatever the reason I would like our bedroom to be more "us", more of a sanctuary, somewhere we want to spend time in; not just the room we sleep in.

So I've been perusing the internet for bedroom ideas and will be dreaming of these for a while:

I love this room- the high ceiling, the skylights, love! I like that it is contemporary but has rustic elements as well. I can see myself hanging out in here. Not sure about the Hubs though.

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I'm also digging this room. It's more on the traditional side, I love the bright window, love the colors, and I like the sitting area and chunky moldings. It's relaxing and I think the Hubs would be more comfortable with this style of room.

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I was drawn to the warmth of this room. Not loving the fabric on the chairs but I like the layout, the frames on the wall are pretty cool and the curtain and headboard fabric is beautiful as well.

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OMG where can I find a house with a bedroom like this!?! Love the view it's amazing! I also like the stone wall and simplicity of the furniture. It lets the architecture and view take center stage. 

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Again, love the rustic elements of this room and the softness of the linens. I don't know if I'd go all out with the wood side table and furry rug but like the overall look.

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I like the contrast of the dark wood and light grey paint and linens in this room. It has a contemporary feel but is soothing and comfortable feeling. I like the patten mixing as well. Would the Hubs approve?

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Again- love the architecture- the ceiling and windows are amazing in this room! I like the simplicity of the bedding and dark wood of the bed itself. It was smart to use an armoire with mirrored doors since the room looks a little narrow. This room is clean and simple and me likey!

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Ok this bedroom is totally different than any of the others but I thought it was really cool! Maybe when I was a single gal back in college or if I were more hip I could have a bedroom like this now. But I might have to file this one away for a future kids room. Or guest room???

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Is your bedroom the bedroom of your dreams? How do you handle you master bedroom style? Do you get your partner's input? Or are you like me and hope no one sees your bedroom unless expressly allowed?

White: Working With It

I know I've blogged about this before; how I like the color white in the home but am not sure how well it would work out in my own personal home. 


There is something about it that I like though- I guess that's why I keep coming back to it. The crispness, how clean it looks, how everything else pops off of it. And the cool thing about it is that you can go with any interior style with an all white room- go super modern, go for a cottage look, minimalist, ect.

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If your thinking of going with white in a space here are some things to think about:

You either go all white or go home. The look your going for won't have the same impact if you only use white sparingly. You need to do the walls, ceiling, trim everything!

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White walls are great for showcasing an art collection, or if you have another bold color you want to use in the room. White walls will make your artwork or accent color pop better than any other color.

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White rooms aren't neccessarily cozy but they can be calming. Since they are usually minimally decorated there is something serene about them. So if your going for a calm feel fight the urge to over accessorize.

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Nothing looks nicer than natural wood and bright white. I love this combo! There's something organic and earthy about it.

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So, debate in my head goes something like this-

Should I paint a room white in our home to see how I like it? Would it even have the same impact as these rooms do? We are in a rental home so it's not like we can change the carpet or flooring...

Am I even sophisticated enough to handle a white room? Can I pull it off?

In any case I probably won't be busting out the Benjamin Moore Super White any time soon. With another baby on the way there's a lot of other things to think about- like finishing his nursery and planning Con-Man's birthday party.

What are your thoughts on white rooms? Love 'em or leave 'em?