Craig's List and Creating New Spaces!

 So I sold my first piece of furniture on Craig's list and it was quite an experience.  I have friends and family who have sold many items on Craig's list and I often advise others to post furniture on this site but this was my first experience.  I listed my table and about 2 weeks after I posted it, I finally sold it to a sweet family that live in Broad Ripple.  However, I learned a little bit about scammers along the way.   I had 4-5 people contact me saying that they for one reason or another could not come look at the table themselves but wanted to purchase it and would send their movers to pick it up.  It was highly suspicious because they kept asking me to KINDLY send them my address or info. so they could have someone pick it up.  SO lesson of the day is that if you list a larger item be aware of people trying to scam you.   I still think Craig's list is great and what is ironic that we might buy a table from the family that bought mine.....  

Like some of you, our home has a more formal space that does not get used very often (well, at our house it doesn't get used how it is suppose to get used)  Most of the time during the winter, all the tables are pushed against the walls and the kids are building forts and playing football in the open space.   So, I have decided that I am going to sell everything in this space and redo the whole entire downstairs both form and function!   This process could take a while because my goal is to sell everything and then use the exact same amount of money to redo it all.   

   I plan on moving my office into our little room downstairs that has been a play room, Josiah's nursery, and currently is housing a college kid.  Side Note:  If you notice in all the pictures of this room that almost all the lamp shades are bent and broken....that is due to the hours of football that takes place in this space!  What am I suppose to do though???  .....we have no basement! lol!

 I haven't decided if these shelves will stay....maybe in a new location???

I hear from my clients all the time that while they want change, sometimes it is hard to say good-bye to the old for one reason or another.  Sometimes it is a treasured piece of furniture that is well past its prime or some trinket that their best friend, husband, or the mother-in-law gave them that they are afraid to not use.      Well, guess what,  I am the same way.  I bought this table and chairs in Virginia and it was once one of my favorite pieces of furniture (now its not my preferred style but it is still classic and beautiful) probably because I purchased it from the Pottery Barn Outlet near our house and I had to keep making trips every week to see if another chair had come in....(good thing the outlet was only a mile away)!  As I helped to load it up yesterday part of me wanted to say, STOP What am I doing:?   My house was done, finished, complete and now I am going to start over?   The good news is that once the new design is in place I will love it and how it function fits the needs of our growing family....but yes, I hear ya,  it is still scary and hard to say goodbye to something that you love and have many memories of...

$200.00 can go a long way!

What I love about good design is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get big results.  It's about knowing what to spend money on and making it all work together.   I helped a single mom who had recently moved redo her daughter's room for around $200.00.  Here is how we spent the money. (I am not including the paint in the $200.00)

Below: Window Wall Before

After: Window Wall After
Mirror: Ikea $20.00, Curtains: Bed, Bath, and Beyond $40.00, Wall Decals: Ikea $10.00  (used the same bookcase) Black Baskets came from another room in the house.

After: Bedding: Bed, Bath, and Beyond $30.00, Lighting: Ikea $10.00, Bedside table: Ikea $10.00, Decorative Pillow: Ikea $4.00

Before: Dormer Window 

After: Dormer Window   Her daughter loves music and requested that I do something that reflected that love.  I thought this window would be the perfect place to relax and listen to her favorite songs.
Curtains: Bed, Bath, and Beyond $40.00, Vintage Records and Clock $5.00, Pillows: Ikea $15.00, Lighting: Ikea  $10.00

 Decorating this room reminded me of why I started working as a designer in the first place.  This family has been through a lot and having her room beautiful meant so much to the mom and the daughter.  When we revealed her room to her, the daughter almost fell over with joy.   You would have thought we spent $2000.00 not 200.00 with the reaction we got!  That is why I love good, intentional design!

The Harvest Is Plentiful

Some of you might remember that last year I helped make a food and vegetable bar for Taylor's Thanksgiving Chapel.  I was asked to help out again this year, but to keep it different and interesting we used only apples.  It is always fun to be able to use my creativity for things other then houses!  Here are some pictures from Chapel that Taylor's professional photographer, Jim Gerringer took.   I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

I took this picture and although I think it looks pretty good, it does look more grainy compared to the others.....

Sneak Peak

I am so excited to post pictures of the Yordy's House, but there are still a few finishing touches that need to be done so this is just a sneak peak.   I will have TONS more pictures soon.....

Sitting Room Before

Sitting Room After:  When I made a presentation to the Yordy's I suggested that they use this space as a Grandma's Corner/ Kid's Nook.    We found these bookshelves at Ikea and actually took off an inch or two from the bottom of them so that they would fit under the windows!  I love how the storage is both functional and beautiful.

Family Room Before

Family Room After (still a few thing to finish up....)

A little goes along way!

 My husband told me the other day that it would be nice if we decorated for the fall season and Thanksgiving this year (long pause)!   Yes, apparently, the past couple years due to the craziness of football season, my design business, BASSYCSJR. etc.... I have skipped decorating during the fall and gone straight to Christmas.   Last weekend, I was asked to make a few decorations for a football brunch for mothers and coach's wives and after the event I was inspired to pull out a few fall decorations.   I am a big believer in not going crazy with seasonal decorations because they can quickly clutter up a space.  So to keep it simple, I change my table decor as well as place one or two pops of the season in each room, I do love to bring the beautiful fall colors inside.   Here are a few tips to remember when decorating for different seasons, that a little goes a long way!  Don't tell anyone that I have 5 Christmas trees though!!

Fred and Linda's House

One of my favorite clients gave her mom a gift card for my services last Christmas.  Below is the email I received from her mom after she opened her present.

Hi Beth!  There hasn't been a present in a long time that I have been so excited about!  I cried on Christmas morning when I read the certificate that Traci typed up!

Here are pictures of our living room, dining room, family room, kitchen and foyer.  My wall colors are Martha Stewart....... Georgica Beach and Westport Tan. They're probably not available anymore for you to look them up. They're kinda sage/tan. The accent wall in the kitchen looks orange in the picture but it's rust. I am VERY content with the colors and would prefer not to paint but I'm also not opposed to it if you think we should change colors. I definitely would change the accent wall without thinking twice.

So, I headed to Michigan in February for a weekend makeover.  Here is what we were able to accomplish.  

Linda had great overall style and accessories but needed some help with furniture lay-out as well as bringing some warmth to the rooms with layering of accessories and especially some different window treatments.

Dining Room Before:  I needed to create some warmth with paint and curtains because the furniture color  is light and there is little contrast in the room so it seems a bit boring.   My client didn't want to spend much on this room so we moved the furniture around providing more balance, a warm color on the walls, a new chandelier which also helps create some texture in a pretty simple room.  

Dining Room After:  This picture was taken before we finished hanging pictures!  

Family Room Before:  Again Linda had great pieces but the room felt a bit disjointed and lacked a real focal point.  I moved furniture around and created a seating area that is truly beautiful and functional.  My favorite thing is how we took the two chairs and put them together to create a love seat/satee.  It really helped balance out the room and gave the whole room a pulled together feeling.  

We added new pillows, switched out the coffee table for a smaller one, and hung some new curtains.  Linda also painted the week after I left  (I tried to honor her wishes to not paint but after seeing the house realized that paint would make a huge difference!)

This is the only picture I have of the entire room and it doesn't really do it justice but that is the problem when the client is in Michigan =)  We also bought new artwork that is pictured above and below.  Love the canvases!

2 chairs pushed together to balance out the room make a huge difference!

Entry way Before

This was so simple yet adds so much.


This room we just added some interest by purchasing the large picture to use as the focal point in the room.  We also rearranged the furniture a bit to bring some balance and although you can't see it we also added some texture and interest with new curtains.

Serenity House

When I heard about this house, I knew it was something that I wanted to be able to help out with in anyway I could. 

It is a home for 18 -21 year old girls who are coming out of foster care or other living situations and need a place to call home until the next stage of life begins for them.  I was honored to donate my time and talents to help design a place that is warm, comfortable, and can be a home for the girls. It was great to have the freedom to be creative and to keep this home young yet beautiful!  

Bedroom Before

Bedroom After

Bedroom After

Bedroom After  

Library Before 

Library After

Library After

Library After

Dining Room Before

Dining Room After

Loved the serious furniture with the fun accessories in this space!

Here is our tree again

Family Room Before

Family Room After

I love the storage ottomans.  They are great for so many things.   I also love the small round ottomans for drinks and for extra seating.   This room came together with items from Dillman Furniture, Home Goods, Jo Ann's, Target, Ikea, & Pier1.

I wanted something in the hallway that could bring interest to the large space as well as be a symbol for all who live in this house.  I love the verse that talks of the tree that is firmly planted by the water .  It is perfect symbol for the growth and love that will take place in this home. 

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After:  New Appliances, countertop, and flooring plus a new paint job on the cabinets..... 

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

Bedroom Before

Bedroom After

Bedroom  Before

Bedroom 2 After