WSAZ Home and Garden Show

We had a great turn-out to our booth at the WSAZ Home and Garden Show.  If you didn't already register for our giveaway, do so here.  We are giving away a "la-petite" consult to up-date your space.  To learn more about that service, click here.

Check out our booth pictures below: And make sure to check back often for our Feather Your Nest Transformation series on our 7th Street whole home re-do.

Feather Your Nest--Seventh Street Transformation

Welcome to How to Get Started:

Are you having a streak of Spring Fever? Has spring showers gotten you confused on where to put your umbrella?  Writers block, or in this case, creativity block, can happen to the best of us.  But, it doesn't have to be hard--it should be fun to update your space.

We all are inspired almost daily.  Whether its a stroll on the beach, a winter landscape or a colorful oil painting; images. as well as music and aromas, evoke our senses and touches on our emotions.  If you would like to update your space around you, turn to the things that comfort you and/or inspire you and make you happy.

As we embark on this huge Feather Your Nest project of transforming an entire home--inside & out, top to bottom--at 1028 Seventh Street, Huntington, WV:  How do we even start such an endeavor? 

Quick peep at the property

How do we make make the spaces cohesive and flow from room to room--with such a huge undertaking?  And, most importantly, how do we stay motivated:

We simply take our own advice and start with something that inspires us and keeps us on track:

Our design team at Feather Your Nest, fell in love with this beautiful oil painting.We felt this reminded us of a spring day that took orange and blue to a new level. With hints of green, grey and taupe: there we have our color pallet for the 7th street home transformation-all from one single painting (& a few opinions, of course)

Next, choose a color from that inspiration (for us the painting) to paint the wall & to create the dominate tones of the room:  

Its much easier to choose a few of the paint colors and buy samples sizes for approx $3 and try them on the room next to a window for light and also to see how it looks next to the woodwork.  It is best to let the color then sit for a few days and look at it periodically at different times of the day to see the best options.

Nest, choose a few other colors from the same inspiration:  either complementary tones: or complete opposites--these will serve as your "accent" colors.  We chose, blue, grey and taupe.

There are area  few rules to follow to give you guidance as you update a room or space within your home:

Rule 1).  Typically your floor cover should be a bit darker than your walls to anchor your space

This rug is vibrant and bright and has the main tones of the inspiration in it.  It would be a great piece to anchor any room.

Rule 2).  Add elements of texture

This is important to add depth to a space and makes room feel comfortable and inviting.  Examples would be:  

A driftwood sconce

A cable knit throw

A collection of rope baskets for holding magazines or blankets

A reclaimed barn-wood wood table

Rule 3) You need something neutral that will fill in the gaps of the room to make it more cohesive

This linen chair would be perfect 

A shabby amiore would do the trick

Rule 4).  Add in something shinny:  to bring contrast & interest

A beautiful mirror such as this one would do the trick

A glazed lamp would also bring in a shinny element:

Rule 5).  Lastly, something green is always good; 

A fresh vase of flowers

Or add in plants:  if you are not a green thumb, like be then a "faux" topiary like these above will do the trick. Flowers & Plants help soften a space and help to take the "just decorated" edge off.

We will be following these rules during our entire Feather Your Nest "Drab to Fab" Seventh Street transformation:  

We invite you to follow along during this 6 week process until the Grand Reveal. Pick up How to's and gain some ideas for your own next as we transform this house into a fun, modern family home.

Enjoy!

What is Old is New Again

Vintage--Industrial

As I have been researching and sourcing for a "pub-room" aka "man-cave", I have come across some manly and equally appealing furniture pieces and designs that evoke industrial, vintage images in a garage-like way.

Being from Kentucky and yes, being a "Coal Miner's Daughter" I am drawn to things that are naturally pleasing (and functional)  in their raw form:  burlap or linen material, fresh greenery, reclaimed or salvaged wood, industrial carts, metal baskets, flour and coffee sacks, vintage dish cloths made into pillows,  "paint-peeling" shutters and furniture that can tell a story or have definitely have lived a colorful life. Even, galvanized pipes (as long as they ain't yur plummin') are artistic and beautiful in their own way.

It is easy to take these everyday elements and incorporate them into your home decor.  Whether you are creating a whole new look or sprucing up your coop, I am sure you can glean some ideas from the following spaces.

This eclectic living room receives a punch of color from the re-purposed industrial cart turned coffee table in its original yellow paint.  Also, check out the surveyor tri-pod lamp in the left corner.

This dining room actually has all new things with borrowed design elements from the industrial factory.  Chairs, table, clocks and cloches as well as the lighting.....all borrowed from the past.

I am loving the clean lines of this space.  The regular metal chairs painted green-blue for dining purposes and simple barn lights overhead are great ideas on a budget.  Also, the galvanized fee-store or garden supply center display shelf as the end table and storage......

This kitchen borrows elements from the industrial side of things like the stools and utility cart/island as well as the pendent lighting.  A space like this infused with a little color such as the red food scale makes for a fun and appealing atmosphere to get creative with your cookin.

Who wouldn't want to work in a space like this?  Again, barn-like pendent lighting overhead....see a theme here?  Also the salvaged wood desk and metal chars......lovely

I absolutely love this kitchen.  I love the color of the cabinets and the fact that there isn't any upper ones....this creates a very open space, as does the re-purposed island card and salvaged wood table.  There are those pendent lights again.

Again an industrial cart re-purposed into a a sink with pull out industrial lighting and a concrete sink vessel...a great powder-room or garden/mud-room area idea.

i love this space because it reminds me of what my dingy, dark and disgusting basement bathroom could look like.....a fresh coat of grey paint, re-purposed mirror, hand sewn vanity skirt with pictures in white mat and frame....I think I am going to "steel" this idea.

This is a coffee shop/bakery...but I love the mixture of industrial lighting and exposed metal beams as well as the mis-matched table and chairs....This would be a great idea for a commercial space or loft.

Speaking of storage...I am going gaga over this collection.  I am currently on the "hunt" for items like this for the "pub-room" 

here a utility cart is re-purposed as a pantry of sorts.  Again, storage baskets are used and vintage cans and crates....for utensil holders.  I love the vintage tackle box or lunch box on the bottom.. What is so lovely about this is that fact that this pantry does not need to be behind closed doors.

Interesting storage option or tool box

Jewelry holder, craft organizer, for the potting shed or bar area......LOVE

Re-purposed egg baskets as lighting

Nautical boat lighting as sconces for the the mirror in the room, over the fireplace or in the bath.  I actually have  great idea of buying something like this and painting it some fun color and putting in beside my daughter's bed.

And lastly, finishing the room with art.  Ideas for industrial art are endless...You could put trays or crates on the wall, watch works, pulleys and any kind of metal sign.  Black and white photographs work well.  Better yet, go around town and take pictures of your historic landmarks in your town and print them in black and white and buy ready made mats and black frames (project ideas).  Ideas are endless.  

I showed you mine: Now, "Show me yours!"

Enjoy

Decorate with Vintage Trunks

I have been working on a bathroom for a client and am looking for a vintage trunk to use as storage.  There are so many great ideas to utilize a trunk within your normal daily living.  Check out the pictures below to steal some ideas for yourself:

You can use a trunk as a coffee table

Stack them in an entryway to create an interesting table for your keys and what-nots that also 

adds loads of storage

Do the same to switch out a boring night-stand: This adds interest and functionality

At the foot of the bed, a trunk can add visual appeal and extra storage for blankets, shoes or toys

A few trunks under an entry table adds depth to the space and storage for seasonal items

If you are looking for ways to find trucks, check Overstock.com, Craigslist for your area, estate sales, flee-markets, vintage re-sell shops and Hobby Lobby.  These are all great resources.

Happy Hunting: And send us a picture of your latest find