I win!  The Bachelorette finally bought those Barbara Cosgrove prints that we talked about a while ago. 

Here’s her breakfast nook before we did anything …

Of course, we repainted the walls as part of her remodel, and you’ll remember that we spray-painted the chairs and had new cushions made.  Now, with the art, I think the space looks finished … and fantastic! 

What do you think?

Wondering how to create a home that is both elegant and livable?  Call me at 704.953.6096 or send me an email at traci@tracizeller.com to discuss how I can help! 

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If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I’ve been working with The Bachelorette on the post-flood remodeling of her small Myers Park home.  While I can’t quite call this post a “before” and “after,” I wanted to share the progress in The Bachelorette’s living room! 

Here’s what we have “before” –

Remember, The Bachelorette wasn’t planning to remodel - and definitely wasn’t planning to be flooded - so excuse the blurred faces in the “before” photos. There wasn’t an opportunity to take better shots, so I had to make do! Although The Bachelorette owned some lovely pieces of furniture, the room felt a little too traditional and heavy – especially with the faux finish on the walls – for such a fun young woman!  It’s also not a large room, and we both agreed that it could feel more spacious. 

And here’s the “in between!” 

We first improved the flow of the entire house by establishing a consistent color palette for the living room and the adjacent dining area and kitchen.  We also changed the orientation of the furniture, which made the room feel much larger and more open … and allows The Bachelorette to look out her front window. 

The Bachelorette purchased a new sofa, occasional chair and media console off the floor at Nest (as well as a sofa table not visible in the photo).  We kept the existing coffee table (which I love and thankfully escaped the flood undamaged) and recovered the club chair and ottoman.  (Here’s the chair before.)  The silk pillows were custom-made from fabric purchased at Robyn’s Fabric Warehouse.  The gorgeous lamps, which were purchased at B.D. Jeffries, frame the area above the media console.  With the rich chocolate shades, I think the lamps are the perfect exclamation points to the space!     

Then we layered in some of The Bachelorette’s existing artwork.  We didn’t reframe anything, but instead hung her pieces in different places to complement the new arrangement and style.    

Here, you can see that the speckled leather seat of the occasional chair is is reminiscent of a robin’s egg.  It is beyond fabulous.  I am seriously in love with this piece!! 

Notice, too, the green recycled glass bowl in the bottom shelf of the console – it’s from Target, baby!   It just adds another great pop of color … that also ties in with the green recycled glass bottles in the kitchen.    

The artwork over the fireplace is more appropriately sized than before, and the reclaimed wood on the mantel is from City Supply Co.  I love how the rough wood brings an organic feel to an otherwise very polished space. 

What’s left to do?  Well, the room needs a rug and new window treatments.  The Bachelorette may put her house on the market this summer, however, so I think we will hold off on any purchases that potentially won’t work in another house – meaning this might be as close as we get to an “after.”  That being said, I think her living room looks fantastic!  It is definitely a space that reflects her personality and in which she enjoys living, relaxing and entertaining.  And what more could you ask for? 

Interested in redoing a room in your house?  Call me at 704.953.6096 or send me an email at traci@tracizeller.com to discuss how I can help! 

Like this post?  Be sure to subscribe to my RSS Feeds!  Or, to view this blog through Facebook, click "Follow this Blog" in the NetworkedBlogs box.  You can also find me on Twitter, @tracizeller, and on Facebook, where my fan page is www.facebook.com/TraciZellerDesigns.  Thanks for reading!

Remember Groovy Girl?  One of my fun new clients – let’s call her The OC Mom (for Orange County, California – one of my very favorite places, and also her home until a couple of years ago) – asked for an update!   Never fear … I haven’t forgotten to fill you or The OC Mom in on how the groovy bedroom suite is progressing.  The Groovy Girl’s family was doing a huge renovation, and they have finally moved back home and are starting to settle in. So, this very groovy bedroom suite (bedroom, sitting area and bathroom) isn’t quite complete … but I do have a sneak peek to share! 

Isn’t this sitting room just so fun and adorable?  I’d love to read and play in that space!  The awesome light fixture is from IKEA … and way better (and better-priced) than the Le Klint that I originally had in mind!  As luck would have it, the PS Maskros fixture isn’t available in the Charlotte store or online.  Of course, that would have just been too easy.  Fortunately, I had a little road trip planned and was able to pick it up along the way!    

And here’s a peek at the bedroom.  A friend of the Groovy Mom’s – who knew we were searching for a simple iron bed – scored this Pottery Barn number for us at the Gaffney outlet.  Isn’t it fabulous?  I love the blingy finials … especially for a tween!  I think we need an orange polka-dot bolster to really complete the look … but, as you can tell, Groovy Girl prefers the blues and greens.  Of course, we haven’t hung the artwork over the bed yet.  Groovy Mom scored some awesome three-dimensional butterflies, so we’re planning an arrangement of those.  It’s going to look great. 

Isn’t this such a fun space?   I can’t imagine any eight-year old girl who wouldn’t love it!  Perhaps I should rename Groovy Girl – and start calling her Lucky Girl! 

Interested in a groovy space for your child?  Give me a call, and let’s see how we can personalize your child’s space to fit his or her personality!   

Like this post?  Be sure to subscribe to my RSS Feeds!  Or, to view this blog through Facebook, click "Follow this Blog" in the NetworkedBlogs box.  You can also find me on Twitter, @tracizeller, and on Facebook, where my fan page is www.facebook.com/TraciZellerDesigns.  Thanks for reading!

I have so many fun things that I want to post about, but I’m feeling as though I should close a few of the topics that I’ve opened before I go on to something else!  I’ve already told you that we just redid my laundry room.  Hardly the most exciting renovation, I know, but necessary all the same - as you will soon find out.  Let’s just say that motherhood doesn’t always look like this …  

My twin boys are now toddlers, but it was only a few short years ago that they were eating every three hours around the clock … and Mommy and Daddy were perpetually exhausted!  They were also reflux babies – meaning spit-up everywhere and every time – which meant lots and lots and lots of laundry.  The one-minute-older twin’s reflux didn’t stop until he was a year old (adjusted age), so I went through cases of Dreft stain spray.  (Works like a charm, by the way!) 

Where am I going with this?  Well, one day I needed to let some stained clothes soak.  I turned on the water to fill up the sink and left to do something else (there was always something else to do!) while it filled up.   Figured it out yet?  I forgot that the water was on … and didn’t remember until the sink was overflowing, every drawer in the cabinet box was filled with water, and the floor was flooded.  Not. A. Good. Idea.  At that point, I got out the Rainbow vacuum and sucked up as much water as possible.   Unbelievably, the drawers and the cabinet box dried out well … and there was no apparent damage. 

Until I did it again.  That’s right; I did it again.  My hubby and I like to say that our family motto is “go big or go home.”  Well, I went big!   This time I flooded the laundry room with hot water.  I didn’t remember that I had left the water running even when my husband asked why all of our windows were steaming up.  Finally, I went into the laundry room and found water everywhere.  Again, the sink was overflowing … only this time, the water had peeled the paint behind the sink.  Again, every drawer of the cabinet box was flooded … only this time, the drawers were swollen and warped.  Again, the floor was flooded … only this time, the quarter round at the base of the cabinet split.  Impressive, huh?  

I broke the Rainbow vacuum out again and did what I could.  Weeks later, when the cabinet finally dried out, the drawers were functional again … but the warped drawer fronts didn’t magically return to their previous condition and the quarter round stayed split.  Of course, the paint behind the sink was still peeling.  At that point, we knew we’d have to replace the cabinet box, but it didn’t seem worth it to turn a claim into our homeowners’ insurance.  When we built the house, we used inexpensive materials in the laundry room to save money … and the countertops and faucet always looked out of place.  So we knew that, when we replaced the cabinet box, we would redo the rest of the laundry room … but given that it’s just a room for laundry, it was hardly our top priority. 

Fast forward to today … I was really tired of my warped drawers (not to mention that laminate countertop I never liked), and I knew that Kara at Navmak could help me renovate my laundry room for a reasonable price.  So here’s what it looked like once the cabinet box got ripped out …

And stay tuned for the after.  Just because it’s functional (and not too expensive), doesn’t mean it can’t be pretty!   

Photo from Second Sister Suaviloquy    

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I’ve already confessed that I am no Jenny (of Little Green Notebook).  But I had a great idea for my closet that prompted a little do-it-yourself … tzd style!

If you are facing the entrance of my closet (from the inside), there’s a tiny little space to the left of the door that is occupied only by a light switch.  I had hung a little – and I mean really, really little - ribbon memo board above the light switch so that I could stick up photos, memorabilia, and little odds-and-ends.  Obviously, the board couldn’t hold much … but I figured it was better to use that space for something rather than nothing. 

But then I had a brainstorm and decided to use …

Rust-Oleum Magnetic Primer!  Have you heard about magnetic primer before?  Most of the buzz you read is about chalkboard paint this, and chalkboard paint that.  Well, I am just too much of an allergic neat freak to tolerate chalkboard dust.  But a magnetic bulletin board – now, that’s no mess, no fuss … and, like a diy chalkboard, you can use every last inch of your space! 

Here’s how easy it is – slap the primer up on the wall and paint over it with any color you fancy.  That’s it … and voila! 

So what do you think?  It’s the black space to the left of the French doors.  Now I can use the entire space, from baseboard to overhead shelf, to post anything I please.  You can see a few things that I’ve put up already – pictures of my precious goddaughter, a Chanel ad that I think is just fabulous, and a Polaroid from long ago. 

Can’t you imagine all kinds of uses for this magnetic board project?  I would totally use it in a child’s playroom, in a mudroom or other main “family” entry to the house, or even a wall in a kitchen.  If you don’t want to do an entire wall, but instead a defined area, you could frame it out with inexpensive pieces of molding.   Super cute way to get organized … and cheap!

I do have a few little tips to make it even easier and more successful.  First, the Rust-Oleum packaging suggests that three thin coats are better than two thick ones.  This only makes sense really – you need the tiny, tiny pieces of metal in the primer to be spread as evenly as possible over your surface.  Without the little pieces of metal in a particular area, your magnet won’t stick.  For that reason, I used five thin coats of paint.  In my space, the magnets are sticking really well, although you still can’t use a super-heavy magnet (like a clip-style magnet).  But it is more than sufficient for holding up photos and magazine tear sheets.  Also, you can paint any color you want over the magnetic primer, which makes the wall surface magnetic and able to blend into any surrounding space.  As you might imagine, however, the primer is a dark gray … so if you go for a light color, it will likely require more than a few coats.  Because I already have black French doors at the entry to my closet, I just decided to do my “magnet board” black as well.  I ran to Home Depot and purchased a Behr Premium Plus Ultra sample size ($2.99!), mixed up in Ralph Lauren Bone Black.  That little jar did the trick for my small space!        

Are you going to try this diy project in your own home?  I’d love to see your photos!  You can send them to me at traci@tracizeller.com or upload them to my Traci Zeller Designs fan page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/tracizellerdesigns). 

Like this post?  Be sure to subscribe to my RSS Feeds!  Or, to view this blog through Facebook, click "Follow this Blog" in the NetworkedBlogs box.  You can also find me on Twitter, @tracizeller, and on Facebook, where my fan page is www.facebook.com/TraciZellerDesigns.  Thanks for reading!   

As I mentioned in a previous post, The Bachelorette had not planned to renovate her home … but Mother Nature (that is, the flooding caused in Charlotte’s Myers Park by rain from Hurricane Faye) had other ideas.  While The Bachelorette still refuses to admit that she’s glad her house flooded – I think she’s just being stubborn - she will admit that she loves her new kitchen.  So let’s show everyone how it turned out!   

Here’s the “before” photo – laminate “granite-a-like” countertops, inexpensive white cabinets, plain surface mount sink and faucet (with a plastic spray handle!), white tile backsplash and a black range.  Not only was the kitchen plain, it also wasn’t as functional as it could be.  Check out the random shallow shelving in the corner.  Can you say “wasted cabinet space?”  I wish I had a “before” photo of the other side of the exterior door, where the refrigerator is.   There, you could really see how much space wasn’t being efficiently utilized.   

And here’s the (unstaged) “after.”  Isn’t it so fresh, pretty and inviting?  Not to mention that it was done on a modest budget!  Remember, the renovation was unplanned … and homeowner’s insurance only covers restoring a damaged kitchen to its previous condition.  In this case, that would have meant replacing only the lower cabinets.  How terrible would that have looked?!?!     

As you can see, we kept the existing light fixtures – I actually love the galvanized steel pendants – but just about everything else changed.  The color really sets the tone of the room, so let’s start there.  The walls are now Sherwin-Williams Universal Khaki (SW 6150), the ceiling is Sherwin-Williams Wool Skein (SW 6148), and  the trim is Benjamin Moore Simply White (BM 2143-70, my favorite white!).  The cabinets – selected at Charlotte’s now-defunct Home Depot Design Center - are Thomasville Cabinetry’s Raleigh Maple in Amaretto Creme, and the stainless appliances are by Jenn-Air.  Adding features like a lazy susan to the cabinets substantially improved the amount of usable storage.  You can’t tell in the photos, but The Bachelorette saved a lot of room by moving the microwave from beside the refrigerator and instead going with a microwave-range hood combo.  And check out the double oven range!  That is an awesome improvement in functionality for The Bachelorette, who loves to cook and entertain.  New cabinets around the refrigerator also gave The Bachelorette some extra counter space, storage for small appliances and shallow pantry-style shelving.  The Bachelorette also loves the bookcase on the side of her enlarged peninsula.  Finally, the granite is Santa Cecilia from Harkey Tile & Stone, and the backsplash is a tumbled travertine subway tile, also from Harkey.  Because both of those materials are stocked by Harkey, the price was substantially lower than any special-order selections.   

What an incredible difference!  You always hear that “the kitchen is the heart of the home,” and now The Bachelorette has a beautiful and budget-friendly kitchen that she and her guests can really enjoy.

Like this post?  Be sure to subscribe to my RSS Feeds!  Or, to view this blog through Facebook, click "Follow this Blog" in the NetworkedBlogs box.  You can also find me on Twitter, @tracizeller, and on Facebook, where my fan page is www.facebook.com/TraciZellerDesigns.  Thanks for reading!

First of all, let me say that I am just not a do-it-yourselfer.  I would soooo much rather hire a trained craftsperson.  It's just that I'm really picky, and I want it done perfectly.  Yes, this does create a bit of strife when my beloved decides that he wants to "fix" something.  And, although I would like to think I can do all things perfectly, especially if given sufficient time, the unfortunate truth is that very often I either don't have the time or the skill to measure up to the standard that I set for myself.  Yes, I can admit it.  As much as I would like it, I'll never be Jenny at Little Green Notebook.  But, on certain occasions, I am willing to experiment with some DIY.  So here's a fun (and super easy) project courtesy of The Bachelorette's new look for her home!   

As background, The Bachelorette had a very attractive table and four chairs that she had been given by her parents.  In fact, The Bachelorette had eaten on that very table while growing up ... which I think makes for a super story!  The table still looks great – it almost has a tortoiseshell-like finish, which I love – but I thought the chairs could look a little fresher. 

I love contrast, and the chairs were just a bit blah.  They blended too much with the table – not making any kind of statement – and the cushions were dated.  Mindful of the fact that we were on a B-U-D-G-E-T, and hence wanted a lot of bang for The Bachelorette's buck (!), my idea was to simply spray-paint the chairs a glossy dark brown and replace the cushions with something a little more fun and modern – in other words, something that would go with the new design in the rest of the house!   So off we went to the now-closed Home Depot Design Center (may you rest in peace) in the Metropolitan development right outside downtown Charlotte and procured several cans of Rustoleum All Surface Paint in Gloss Espresso Brown. 

Then, one partly sunny afternoon, we put a tarp down in the Bachelorette’s yard and just started spraying!  Because the chairs were older and already a bit rough, we didn’t even bother to sand them.  The Bachelorette and I just went in circles, spraying chair after chair.  Hilariously (or not), it started sprinkling … not long after we had finished our last coat.  So she and I frantically started carrying – as delicately as possible – not-completely-dry chairs to her front porch.  Fortunately, all’s well that ends well, and the chairs looked fantastic! 

Now it was time to replace the chair cushions.  I found this awesome blue leopard fabric - you know I love my animal prints - at Robyn’s Fabric Warehouse.  Just for you, my beloved blog readers, I found it online here. 

I then took the fabric to be made into cushions by a small upholstery company in Mount Holly that I knew to be budget-friendly.  Sooooo, drum roll, please!  Here’s one of the finished chairs. 

Doesn’t it look super?  It's even better in person ... and the DIY part was totally painless!  The total cost was under $400 – approximately $40 for six cans of spray paint, $100 for fabric and $250 in labor.  If you know how to sew, it would be practically nothing!  I'll share more photos of The Bachelorette's pad soon, so you'll get to see the chairs with the table.  I always know a project is a success when I am so in love with it that I wish I had it in my own home.  But as another designer said to me at High Point Market, at least I know where those pretty things now live and I can go visit them if I need to!    

Have any fun before and afters?  I'd love to share them!  Wondering what I'd do in your space?  I'd love to get your questions.  Email me at traci@tracizeller.com or tweet me at @tracizeller, and maybe I'll feature your question in an upcoming blog entry!  

Like this post?  Be sure to subscribe to my RSS Feeds!  Or, to view this blog through Facebook, click "Follow this Blog" in the NetworkedBlogs box.  You can also find me on Twitter, @tracizeller, and on Facebook, where my fan page is www.facebook.com/TraciZellerDesigns.  Thanks for reading!     

Remember this?  Well, I bought the chair. 

Don't worry; I absolutely, positively, did not, under any circumstances, steal the chair from Decorno.  I would never.  Cross my heart and hope to die.  But a few days after the listing expired without any bids (much less a buyer), I emailed the seller and asked if it was still available.  He relisted it, I "bought it now," and voila!  

Too busy with other projects to make the chair a priority, I lived with it as-is ... for more than a year.  I liked an idea left in the comments to the original post (thanks, Patricia from PVE Design ... I still want to hire you to draw something for me!), but I wanted to tweak it a little bit to fit my space. 

I entrusted the chair to Amy Cathey with Brushworks to give it its lacquered red finish (Heritage Red from Benjamin Moore).  Amy ripped up the upholstery for me, to uncover this ...

Isn't that hilarious?  I actually like the (presumably) original fabric (on the left); it was a synthetic (?) silk shantung, still in turquoise but much more subtle.  The middle fabric, on the other hand ... hello, Golden Girls!  It seems like a bad version of the popular-again banana leaf wallpaper made famous by the Beverly Hills hotel (and also used in Blanche's bedroom). It's just not my vibe ... and I don't think it suits the chair.  The fabric on the right is, of course, the fabric shown in the original pictures.  

After Amy gave the chair its newly fabulous finish, I went off in search of fabric.  I didn't want to spend a lot ... and I needed it to be durable.  The chair is by a window, and my diva dog Coco the Maltese likes to sit in the chair and sun herself.  It's a rough life.  I settled on natural Sunbrella - which was a little creamier than I wanted, but I definitely didn't want stark white - with black Sunbrella for the piping.  A quick trip to Design Upholstery, speedy monogramming by Hometown Threads (I can't stand Wally World where it's located, but it's worth the trip to get 24-hour monogramming) and ...       

What do you think???  I wish the red were photographing better; it looks a bit dull in the pictures, but it's really awesome in person.  Anyhoo, I love it ... and it's gotten tons of compliments.  Cross that off the list! 

I had great fun today working on a preliminary design for a very groovy bedroom suite (bedroom, bathroom and sitting room) for an almost eight-year old girl.  The entire house is undergoing a major renovation, so Groovy Girl's bedroom is getting a fun new look right along with the rest of the home!  Groovy Girl specifically asked for blue and green, and is generally not excited about lots of pink.  Groovy Mom loves the look of the public spaces at the Wynn Las Vegas and the Encore at the Wynn but was specifically inspired by the Encore for Groovy Girl's bedroom.  Both hotels use red and purple liberally for a rich, vibrant look.  The Encore at the Wynn, however, is often described as the Wynn Las Vegas' younger, hipper sister as the floral motif of the Wynn gives way to a butterfly motif at the Encore.  Check out a few pictures of the Encore below ...

So keeping those general directives in mind - while being mindful that the room must be suitable for a young girl, yet able to grow with her - here's what I'm working on.  My fabric favorities are Dazed River Blue and Spirodots Sherbert. 

Buttercup River Blue could be used instead of Dazed River Blue, and Spirodots also comes in a River Blue colorway. 

Rather than add more blue, though, I'd really like to funky it up by using more red and purple.  Butterflies would be perfect, of course, but - if I can find the right one - I'd also love a youthful animal print.  We could have lots of fun with accent pillows and the like!  Oh, and I must mention that these fabrics are an extremely reasonable $6.95 per yard, thank you very much, so even with the cost of having the bedding made, we should in the ballpark of a full-priced bedding set from Pottery Barn Kids.  Paint colors (all from Sherwin-Williams) will be Lime Rickey (SW 6717) for the sitting room, Rapture Blue (SW 6773) for the bedroom and Cay (SW 6772) for the bathroom.  At some point, we'll do some decorative painting - I know Groovy Mom would love to see these cool butterflies on the wall - but that will wait until the house is finished and the family is more settled.  

So, that's about as far as I got today ... although I've had my eye on this Le Klint pendant for the sitting room.   

Unfortunately, it's not large enough.  Well, I should say the "small" (12" height, 13" diameter) and "large" (15" height, 17" diameter) sizes are not big enough.  The "giant" size (30" height, 33" diameter) would probably work, but not to the tune of $3,000+.  Groovy Girl has requested a "disco ball," so it would also be fun to add some sparkle to our lighting choice.  

Isn't this room going to be fabulous!  Stay tuned for more updates as it starts to come together ...       

Photos from Trip Advisor , BuyFabrics.com, and hive.