Home Projects

Have you ever finally decided to start A project in your home and then the next thing you know you have 15 projects going on at the same time. Well that is exactly what has happened to me.  As you know I decided   to change my downstairs work room into a showroom /office. A very BIG project but one I was excited to do.  Now go back about a year, my daughters decided they wanted to have  "older" looking bedrooms.  We decided to start with Sara's room (she is the oldest) and then move down in age.  I started her room, but got to a point (mind you, we only had the desk and the wall paint) where she couldn't make any final decisions. Every week she would change her mind.  So we put the project on hold. Of course as soooon as I dive into the project downstairs she decides she knows exactly what she wants and wants to get things moving again.

I say to myself that's fine, I can handle both of these projects at the same time, start a company and continuing working with my existing clients.   Women are great at multitasking! First item on Sara's list hardwood floors (actually they have always been on my list for all of the bedrooms). So I call Mark (a great carpenter that works on alot of projects for me) and I go to order the floors. I quickly find out that it is more cost effective to order ALL of the flooring at the same time.  That means flooring for 4 bedrooms and a family room.

Yes my friends, I now have to tear up 6 rooms pretty much at the same time and continue on with my "normal" life. And if you personally know me, normal is not apart of my life!

Needless to say we are just going to take a leap of faith, hope my marriage can handle this added chaos, and move forward.

Here are a couple of before pictures of Sara's now empty bedroom and what the rest of my house looks likes. So much fun.

Hallway upstairs now storing furniture.

Sara has moved into the guestroom. Isn't it great!

The dining room is perfect for holding wood.

If I am a little late on my blogs, you now know why. Can anyone say CRAZY !!!!

Take Care,

Stacy

You to can have your house look like this, contact me and ask me about my design services.

Believe it or not I am still SMILING! I am actually having fun. I love design.

Using Mirrors in Your Home

Decorating a home can at times be overwhelming and there is always a priority list( as there should be). When making your list, consider what will give you the "most bang for you buck". What will be functional and decorative at the same time.  In my opinion, mirrors are one of those items. Mirrors provide a special touch in home decor by adding light and creating the illusion of space. Mirrors are so versatile, that as a designer, I use them alot.

I love using mirrors especially in small or close areas. Because they reflect light, they can actually make a room brighter. Brighter rooms appear larger then they really are.

Green Design

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Palmer Weiss

Simply Seleta

Placing  long wall mirrors in a  hallway or small area can add a sense of width and depth , making the room appear larger. While part of this has to do with light, it also has to do with how the eye perceives the space when colors are reflected. Because of this color reflection, there is more for the eye to observe, which tricks your brain into thinking the space is larger.

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Emma Jane Pikington

Windsor Smith



Using a series of mirrors can create the same effect you would get from a larger mirror. Clustering several mirrors of different sizes, shapes and frames can also create an interesting decor effect.



Elle Decor

Anthropologie



 If  mirrors do not fit your decorating style, try using a piece of furniture with a mirrored surface, such as a coffee table, dresser or side table.  Mirrored furniture not only looks beautiful in a room, if placed correctly, it will reflect light and function like a wall mirror.

  

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Horchow

Erin RBT



 I love the use of mirrors in these rooms!.

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In this photo, they used a series of mirrors. The vanity mirror is one large circle with several small rectangles attached. They are all reflecting light and color separately. Also, the vanity itself is mirrored.  See how it reflects the gold in the wallpaper. So beautiful!

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Eddie Ross

Justin Bernhardt

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Stacey Branford

Studio Ten 25

Take Care,

Stacy

For help designing a room that makes you smile, contact me and ask about my design services.

 

#8 Favorite Home Decor- Mirrors

Just like pillows, mirrors are another inexpensive way to not only add to a room but also make a small room look larger. They are easy to find and extremely easy to update with just a can of spray paint.

These mirrors I bought for my house from auctions, thrift stores and inexpensive home stores.

I have two of these. One for each sink in my master bath

 I purchased both these mirrors from Tuesday Mornings ( local "overstock" home store). You have to dig through some junk, but you can find great deals. I paid $25 a piece for these and they are perfect in two of my bathrooms.

Auction purchase. Great in my dining room with these red walls.

The frame of this mirror is made out of tin. I purchased this at Second Chance which a non-profit organization in MD that gets items to sell from estate donations.

This mirror is in my daughters room.  Its frame is made out of recycled magazines.  So fun.

My advice to everyone in regards to buying mirrors, is think outside the box.  Be creative! If you find a mirror you love and at a great price, pick it up. There is always a place to put a mirror and they make great gifts.

Take Care,

Stacy

For help designing a room that makes you smile, contact me and ask about my design services.

The Perfect Find!

Definitely what my children would call an OMG!!! A farm in Leesburg, Virgina called Lucketts.



 I have been there three times and each time it gets better and better.  Basically it is a farm which has three old farm houses sitting on it.  The owner has converted the houses and the surrounding land into incredible home decor stores.  One of the houses is a Design House. It is open only one weekend a month ( sometimes not even that). They redesign the house for every opening and everything is for sale! 

Pictures inside the Design House.

The other two houses are open seven days a week and carry a variety of items from home decor to vintage clothing and linens.



It is definitely worth the trip.  On my trip this weekend my client and I found a dining room table, chandelier, lamp and clock.  We left  at 8:15am and were home by 1pm. I would say that was a productive day.

For more information go to Lucketts Store.

If you would like help shopping please contact me and ask about my design services.

Take Care,

Stacy

SHM Designs Future Showroom/Office

Well I'm biting the bullet. I have decided to change my in-home work room into a showroom/office for my new design business.  Its a little sad and actually overwhelming but at the same time very exciting. I have hired Nadine Sachs, owner of Organized2Succeed and good friend to help me tackle this project.  When I closed my shop last February I dumped everything left from the shop into my workroom. It will be great to  see the floor again!

Here are a few pictures of the start of the remodel:

Organizing Phase:

(just a little cluttered)

I actually use to get alot of work done in here.

Nadine still smiling!

I will be selling alot of Fabric and Yarn throughout the next weeks. Pictures will be shown on upcoming posts. Everything will be sold in lots. All fabric is at least 1yd with most being 2+ yards.  Prices will be extremely low so get in touch with me quickly if you are interested. If you live in the area you are more then welcome to stop by and take a look.

Take Care,

Stacy



Make Your Own Pillow - Its Easy!

Pillows are one of the easiest home accessories to make and also one of the fastest ways to add a little punch to a room. I know you are thinking there is no way I can make a pillow, but I am telling you, you can.

Here are two examples:

Instructions: 14 x14 pillow

Wash, dry and iron your material. You will need a 30-inch square of material.

Fold the material in half and cut  into two even pieces.

Place the two pieces of material with Right Sides together.  Pin the material together.  Leave a 10-inch opening unpinned on one of the four sides.

Sew the pieces together with a 1-inch seam ( start sewing 1 inch in from the edge). Leave the opening on the fourth side unsewn. Trim the excess material from the seams and turn it inside out. Iron the seams to a "knife edge." 

Fill the form with loose polyester fiber or an appropriately-sized foam pillow. (In this case a 14 inch pillow form). Slip stitch the 10-inch opening by hand so it is securely closed.

 A video demonstration of another pillow. This one is slightly different but just as easy.

That's all there is to it!


Pictures of a couple of pillows that I have made.

Cute little pillow for a girls bedroom.

I was so excited how the cushions for this iron bench turned out.

 I made them out of burlap and piped them in the same sage green toile I used for the accessory pillows. So durable and so much fun!

These pillows were made out of vintage chenille fabrics that I got off of eBay.

 I made the pillow coverings exactly like the instructional video in the blog.

This silk material came already tufted thus making

 it look difficult to make but actually very easy.

 If you decide to make your own pillow after reading this blog, or if you have already made a pillow, send me a picture and let me know how it went. I would love to hear from you.

Take Care,
Stacy

Need a custom pillow and don't have the time or desire to make it on your own, Contact Me, to talk about my design services.