A Recent eDesign Project

I recently completed an eDesign for a client that needed some direction for redecorating her Living Room and Foyer.  She recently found the sofa, so we added some new pillows just to freshen it up.  I added other pieces that were reasonably priced and worked well for entertaining.  This is the space where the young couple likes to entertain family and friends.  Their TV is upstairs in a Bonus room, so I arranged the room for conversation, and a place to relax with a good book.  I gave her a complete source list with pricing so that she can purchase what she needs for the space.  Once everything is purchased, and the room is painted, I will go back and help her arrange everything.  Can't wait to see the finished room!  I'll post more pics when everything is complete!

If you are interested in learning more about an eDesign Plan for your own home, you can email me @ leeannburkhartinteriors@gmail.com.

Happy Spring!

Today is such a beautiful day here in North Carolina!  The first week of Spring was off to a slow start with a windy and cold week, but today is sunny and in the mid 60s.  I have added a few spring decorating touches around here that I thought I would share.  

The biggest project I have recently undertaken, in addition to my regular client projects, is painting my kitchen.  I will have 'before and after' pictures to share when my cabinet doors have been hung.  They are being sprayed by a professional, and should be ready next week.

Enjoy your weekend!

A Tale of Two Condos (Part 2)

I recently finished the second of the two condos I've been working on for the last month.  I had a tight budget and a tight deadline in which to complete this one.  The condo needed to be finished by the end of February and I  had a trip scheduled for the last week of February, so I needed to have everything finished before I left town.  I would have made it except the sofa did not arrive before I left town!  Thankfully, I had someone who was willing to meet the moving guy at the condo once the sofa was delivered to my warehouse.  Very seldom do deadlines and  deliveries cooperate with each other which can make life interesting sometimes!

I was very happy and relieved to finally complete this condo.  The colors are some of my favorite: navy and white with accents of yellow.  The sailboat picture over the sofa is another favorite, and one that I have in my own home!  The goal on this project was to design a space that was warm and inviting without breaking the bank. When I walked into the condo today to get these shots I thought, "Yes. This feels warm and inviting".  Mission accomplished!

Here are some shots taken with my iPad, but you'll get the idea:

"It's a Wrap!"

Remember last week I mentioned that I was working on two condos.  The image that I shared with you last week showed Condo #1 without a sofa.  The above photo was taken this afternoon, and as you can see, the sofa finally came in, and tonight I am happy to report that this condo is a wrap!  Not only is it a wrap, but it is a nice-looking wrap.  Though this condo is small, we managed to give it a lot of personality without being overkill!  I love the punch of coral color throughout the space!

Hopefully, by the end of the week, I'll have some pictures of Condo #2 ready to show you!

"That's a wrap!"

A Tale of Two Condos (Part 1)

Just wanted to drop in and give you a peek at what I've been doing lately.  I am in the middle of staging two condos for a real estate developer.  I am waiting for the sofa to arrive to complete the first condo.  It should be here by the end of the week!  Until then, this is what "Condo #1" is shaping up to look like.

"Condo #1" required some careful space planning because the living area is very tight.  My goal was to choose smaller scale furniture with a lot of personality.  I love these coral chairs with the Cabana stripe rug from Capel Rugs.  

I'll post more pics once the sofa is in place.  In the meantime, I will be working to have "Condo #2" staged by the end of next week!  Stay tuned for those pictures!

A Second Chance for This Little Bench

I was recently asked by one of my clients if I could makeover a small bench that had been passed down to her from an aunt.  The bench was very sturdy and we both thought it could make a nice addition to her entryway area as a place to sit down and put on your shoes.  She was thinking maybe a black color, but I encouraged her to stay with a light color that would blend in with the walls, yet stand out against the wood floors.  I will be taking the bench to her tomorrow.  I hope she likes it as much as I do!

Here is the bench before we painted it and added a new cushion.

After selecting the fabric, I gave it a coat of paint using Annie Sloane chalk paint in "Old White".

 My seamstress made the new cushion using a very durable, but comfortable fabric.  I had her add the two buttons to give it just a bit more personality.

Amazing how a little paint and some new fabric can bring new life to an old piece of furniture!  

A Staging Project

Just before Christmas, I completed a staging project for a family who was preparing their home to go on the market.  Normally,  I follow up the initial staging consultation with an email to the homeowners giving them a room-by-room checklist of suggested changes for each room.

For this project, the homeowners spent several days of hard work checking items from the list, and I returned to the home the following week to complete the staging.  We spent several hours moving furniture, hanging pictures, and accessorizing.  I brought some of my own artwork, lamps, bedding, and accessories to fill in where necessary.  Other than the things I brought from my own staging supplies, we were able to rearrange and repurpose what the homeowner already had.  The results were so dramatic that the homeowner had second thoughts about selling the home!  Just to give you an idea of the difference staging can make, here are a couple of before and after shots from the first two rooms you see upon entering the house:



                                    The Front Rooms Before Staging

Buyers would have been greeted with this small room that the homeowner used for a sewing room, 

and 

just beyond the sewing room was a "playroom" for the children.  Buyers would certainly have a difficult time imagining themselves in either of these rooms.



After Staging…..

We repurposed the sewing room to become an inviting sitting room by moving the old sewing table to the breakfast room and bringing in these two club chairs and side table from other rooms in the home.  The rug was moved in from the dining room, and I brought the lamp and all of the accessories from my own staging stash to complete this cozy look.  Now, buyers can imagine themselves sitting in this space enjoying a good book!

The old playroom becomes what it was intended to be!  The table and chairs along with the rug was relocated from the breakfast room.  The large piece of art, painted by the homeowner, was moved from the master bedroom and hung over a sideboard that was moved from the family room.  

Now, buyers can visualize the purpose of these rooms and imagine themselves moving right in here!