On My Desk: Furniture Plan Reveal

A few weeks ago I posted these two images on my Facebook Page.  I asked for your input on which furniture plan you liked best. The funny thing was the results were totally split down the middle! Here's a look at the two options...

Want to know what the project was for?!  Thanks for asking ;)
Next Fall I'll be transferring to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising as a direct transfer program with Seattle Pacific {where I currently attend.} This is the whole reason I came up to rainy Seattle in the first place. My dream has always been to go to FIDM, but I also so desired the four-year college experience that SPU offered me. Direct transfer program, two degrees in four years....?? Yes please. 
So, this project was my entrance admissions project to be officially accepted into FIDM. Because asking my readers to do the project for me would have been cheating, I had actually already picked the layout I was going to use before I posted the photos. Just wanted to see what people thought :)
Here's the one I went with...with a few little tweaks!

Why it works: Some people were concerned with the couch placement in regards to the TV. I don't like TV or media centers to be the focus of a room, so I wanted to create a room with great conversation placement.  I really wanted the focus on the fireplace, so by placing the custom built-in's next to the fireplace, I think it will do just that. Placing the chairs in front of the windows allows for a better view, as the couch would block the light too much.  The rug really unifies the whole space by anchoring the room {without a rug, the furniture would look like it was floating!}

Before I landed on the final design plan, I went through a few looks. I originally thought I wanted a traditional look with a few modern pieces, but realized when I put it in my design program I wasn't feelin' it...

I switched out the rug and curtains and felt MUCH better about the design plan:

It feels a lot more fresh, right?!

I finished up the project by putting together a design board with fabrics and furniture choices...

I sent the project off to FIDM last week and am excited to hear what they think. No one has ever not gotten in to FIDM from SPU, so I'm not too worried...but if I don't...that statement was highly embarrassing for me to tell you all ;)


I'm linking this project up with Amanda from Serenity Now!
That's my little project for the week! What do you think?! Man, I love what I do.
Happy Thursday!
Love,


PS. Welcome to my new sponsor Jillian Nicole of the ever-adorable blog Mimi Nicole

I'm so happy to have connected with Jillian, as she has just the sweetest personality! Over at her blog, you'll find all sorts of lovely inspiration. She loves all things wedding and is an aspiring wedding and event coordinator. Jillian also has such a wonderful eye for putting colors and collages together. Get to know her now :)

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Top Eleven Projects of 2011

I really can't believe I'm writing this post right now, because writing this post is acknowledging the fact that 2011 is coming to a close! This past year has been fun, challenging, sad {with the loss of our pup!}, exciting {as I drove my new car to Seattle and redid my bedroom}, and a whole bunch of other things. In the midst of everything, I learned a lot about myself, design, life, fashion, friends, family, and of course a few DIY projects along the way(:
Take a look:


1. I moved into, decorated and moved out of my first college apartment:

2. After some serious Good Will Hunting, I spotted, sanded, painted and changed out the knobs on this pretty white dresser.  It found its home in my bedroom at home in California:

3. This Cookies-in-a-Jar recipe was a perfect gift for one of my good friend's weddings:

4. When my family decided to put our house on the market, we ripped up the family room carpet and refinished the floors. We love our new Pottery Barn rug and pretty wood floors:

5. I took my obsession with mason jars to a new level by adding Chalkboard paint to the jar:

6. In order to give my hair a break, I tried out some No Heat Curls and it worked so well I do it at least once a week now!

7. Again with the mason jar thing.  This time, I created a lace vase:

8. I made both a DIY Clothespin Bulletin Board
and
9. This Glossy Magazine Collage Canvas for me new bedroom in Seattle.

10. Upon moving into a disaster of a room in Seattle, I gave it a little TLC. My Chevron Dresser is my favorite part of the room:

See finished room and source list here.


11. And finally, most recently, my favorite Christmas project was these mason jar snow globes:

Guess you could say I made great use of mason jars this year?! Ha! Hope you enjoyed these projects. Can't wait to see what 2012 has in store! (:


I'm linking up with Rhoda at Southern Hospitality.


What was your favorite project you did in 2011??
Happy Thursday!
Love,

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Dishin' on Design Dilemmas: Back in Action

It's baaaackkk! Some of you may remember I did a segment a few months ago called "Dishin' on Design Dilemmas"... well I miss it, so we're bringing it back. Watch my little message for the info!

To get some questions rollin' and really, just to inspire you, here are some of my favorite projects or fall decor floating around the blog world lately!


Natasha's Thanksgiving Tablescape

Michelle's Living Room Reveal {seriously check out the gallery wall!}

Courtney's Writing on the Wall in her Pretty Kitchen

Christine's Nursery Reveal {Can you tell why I love it so much?!}

Emily's Thankful Branches

BBB Sister's Cardboard Pumpkin Settings {as seen on Design*Sponge}

Fun stuff, right?!
Have you seen any fun DIY's lately?


What design dilemma's do you have?! They can be as simple as how to refinish furniture or where I find cute knobs, or you can ask about an entire room! Get creative (:


Happy Thursday!
Love,



PS. Welcome to my newest sponsor Nicole from Running in Heels!

Follow sweet Nicole as she blogs about all the things she loves- the top one being running, of course! And any girl who has a shoe fetish is a friend of mine (:
Go say hi...you'll love her spunk!
xoxo

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Drafting Class: Color Board!

Today I turn in and present my color board that I've put together for "The Gray's Residence".  The project was to design and decorate a home for our "clients".   It was so much fun.  I'm definitely reassured that I love interior design!  They have a small house-- about 980 square feet.  They needed a den, master (with private bath), eating area, one and a half baths, and of course, a kitchen and family room. Here's what I came up with:

 It's an open concept home.  They like to entertain, so there is bar seating as well as a window bench and dining table in the far upper right hand corner.  The family room is below the kitchen and boasts a Jonathan Adler chevron rug, pottery barn couch and media center and an ottoman with storage.  The den is on the bottom left hand corner and features a double sided fireplace (into the family room), a large desk, seating, and bookshelves.  The master is in the upper left hand corner and features a french door out to the patio, multiple windows for ample lighting and a fun bedspread from Anthropologie that I rendered.  A simple home, but oddly enough, I've grown attached to the floor plan (: Here's how I decorated the space:

Family Room.  I went with a subtle gray tone with a purple undertone to it.  It's soothing and compliments the curtain fabric:

The yellow in the curtains made me think of some fun wall art we all know and love:

MadeByGirl Candy Lemon (:

I also used a lamp that Kate, from Centsational Girl made:

Here's how it looks on my board with the labels:

Next is the Dining Room:

I found the chandelier in Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic book.  Fell in love with the second I saw it!  I found the rug on West Elm.

Here's what the window bench and table look like:

Now onto the Master Bedroom:

{This is a large view of the bedspread and color scheme.}

Here's how it looks on the board.  I made a sample of what the curtains would look like, lined with a strong black boarder at the bottom.  The turquoise on the walls will be timeless paired with the classic black and white.

Now for some wall art!  I just fell in love with my friend BreAnne's wedding photo's so I asked her if one of her pictures could be hung over the bed.  {In this case, we'll pretend the people in the pictures are the clients (: }

Here's the picture:

{Isn't it cute?! Go here to visit Ashley Maxwell's blog!}

And here's what I did with it:

{Just printed it out and made a small black frame for it.}

Another one of Jen's prints will be hung on the opposite wall.  This one is the love languages print (:

Here's the final product:

After my fingers being covered in glue and my wrist being super sore from cutting tiny pieces of mat-board, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out and am actually very excited to present it tomorrow!  Hope you enjoyed a little project I've been working on all quarter in my drafting class.  

What are you up to on this Wednesday??

Love,

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