Real Life Two Day Room Makeover Challenge Accepted!

I have a really fun announcement.  To demonstrate how easy it is to implement one of my online design plans, I am taking one a step further than usual… I'm flying to Denver, Colorado for two days to personally install a nursery I designed online AND I'm taking YOU with me!   As if that's not exciting enough,  the design will be a total surprise for the homeowners, at their BIG REVEAL. 

It's going to be the ultimate reality experience, a REAL LIFE, two day room makeover in a real home.  Not like a TV show with a big crew of carpenters, design assistants, and camera men behind the scenes.  Just me, two helpers, my camera, my design plan and two days to get the job done.

{via}

I'm SO excited about this nursery design, the photo above is a little inspiration hint. 

It's so hard not to share my plan for the space ahead of time.  The homeowners want to be surprised, so I'm keeping it under wraps.  

Here's a look back at a few of my recent kids rooms, you can see in these examples how inspiration boards came to life…

Hannah's Room:

Hannah's finished room...

Jack's Room:

Jack's finished room…

Bennett and Grady's Room:

Bennett and Grady's finished room...

 I hope you will join me for this fun two day room makeover challenge.  

As we get closer to the big reveal, I'll share more details, until then…let's get started on your space.  I have a few openings left this month, Click here for details on my affordable online design service.  

© Copyright 2013 The Yellow Cape Cod

Amazing Room Transformation With Coffered Ceilings

I typically don't blog about a room makeover mid-project, but I can't keep this one to myself.  When I popped in on this client last week, my jaw hit the floor.  The space we are working on is a semi-formal living room.  We are waiting for furniture to be delivered before implementing the design, but the room has already undergone a major transformation.

What was originally two rooms, an office and a small dining room separated by a wall with pocket doors is now one large space.  Here is what the spaces looked like before the wall was removed...

{The Den Before}

{The Dining Room Before}

Here is what the space looks like now…

Removing the wall left a support beam where the two spaces used to be separated.  To camouflage the beam, the homeowners had a gorgeous coffered ceiling installed by Rob Toth {Carpenter, Grand Blanc, Mi} and Architect Chris Macklin (Macklin Design).  The two small dark rooms are now one large, open, light-filled space with

one. amazing. ceiling. 

 Rob also installed a gorgeous built in bookcase with special attention to detail, as he replicated the molding style used throughout the rest of the home.  I'm just dying to style them.  For the new wall color, we chose "Gray Squirrel" by Martha Stewart to provide contrast and highlight the beautiful woodworking throughout the space.

 I'll be back with the room reveal, until then we will just have to relish in this gorgeous empty room dripping with custom detail and fantastic moldings.  Here is a little sneak peek into the furniture we've ordered…

Eric and Sara, thanks for letting me share your room transformation.

For information on my affordable online design service, please click here. 

© Copyright 2013 The Yellow Cape Cod

Amazing carpentry/painting by Rob Toth of Grand Blanc, Mi.
Architect, Chris Macklin, Macklin Design.

The Final Layer~Finishing Off a Great Space

Hello, friends.  I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  I did, I spent some time with the family and was also able to get caught up on exciting design projects I have in the works. 

I'm now accepting new online design clients.  If you have a room you would like to tackle this spring, my online design service will give you a step by step plan of attack to implement a professional design (at the fraction of the cost of a conventional on-site interior designer).  Whether it's working with what you have, making all new product recommendations, or a combination of the two, your space has the potential to be amazing.  I live to help you achieve it. 

 There are a few spots left this month (please click here for more info).  

  

Today's featured online design plan is for a gorgeous formal dining room…

  This space already has beautiful bones.  A spicy orange wall color,  warm white picture frame moldings, a gorgeous wood toned dining table and fabulous custom drapery (made by the homeowner's mother).

All it needs is the final layer to pull it all together and make it complete.  We started the design consultation by preparing a true to scale floorplan illustration that includes the product recommendations we made for the space.  This birds eye view shows how the items we suggested should be placed in the room.

For a centerpiece, we recommended either two large live boxwood urns (like these) or one extra large arrangement of dried hydrangea purchased from her local florist and placed in a large vase.  

We chose this gorgeous 8 x 10 area rug to ground the space.  The amazing large scale trellis pattern will make statement.  The white border along the edge will create a frame around the dining table.  

This mirror will be an eye-catching focal point over the new black console table (shown in the inspiration board from Ballard Designs).  The black finish of this mirror and the new console will provide amazing contrast to the white moldings and warm wood tones throughout the space. 

A pair of lamps has to be my most favorite dining room accessory.  Soft accent lighting provided by a pair of lamps during an evening dinner party creates the most relaxing atmosphere.  These lamps are gorgeous enough for a formal space.  The gentle glow they will provide will soften the room like nothing else.  Their large scale will make a statement in the space even when they are not lit.

Thank you, Denise, for inviting me into your home.  

I can't wait to see how this space comes together. 

To make your reservation for my affordable online design service, please click here. 

**There is more to this design plan than what is shown in this post.  Out of courtesy to my client, I am unable to share more detailed information.  Thank you for understanding.  

© Copyright 2013 The Yellow Cape Cod

A Custom Room Design Inspired By A Photo

Have you ever browsed Pinterest and absolutely fell in love with a room and wished your space could look like that?  If you have, send the picture to me when we start your room re-design.  

Today's featured online design plan is for Lynn's sitting room.  Before we began this project, Lynn sent us a photo of a space that she loved.  Using that photo as inspiration, we gave her a custom design with a similar feel...

Sending us an inspiration photo at the beginning of your online design consultation is a great way to start the project.  Even though this particular inspiration space was a nursery, it was a great way to illustrate the general look Lynn was drawn to.  Here is the photo she sent us:

(photo found here)

We applied a lot of similar elements in Lynn's plan to give her a room that has the same feel as the inspiration space, but is not an exact replica.  Lynn's custom design plan is a unique design created specifically for her home.  

Lynn's sitting room is not a large space, however the new design is big on style and on function.  

Here is the true-to-scale floorplan we provided for Lynn's new sitting room...

The furniture arrangement we recommended gives her a cozy seating area under a sunny window, perfect for intimate conversations.  

Etsy was the source for this fabulous graphic artwork.  We recommended that Lynn purchase these gorgeous prints and have them framed/matted at her local craft supply store.  

If one gorgeous, oversized lamp is good, two is better.  These lamps will have a big presence in the space.  They are large in scale, yet their translucent quality keeps them feeling light.  

To warm up the cool color palette and to create a tidy display in Lynn's bookcase, we added dark natural textured baskets.

This is the second time we have had the opportunity to create an online design plan for Lynn.  Thank you, Lynn for having us in your beautiful home, again. 

For information on my affordable online design service, please click here. 

**Out of courtesy to my client, I am unable to share more specific details of her custom design plan.  Thank you for understanding.  

© Copyright 2013 The Yellow Cape Cod

Getting A Whole New Look Using What You Have

Some of my Online Design Projects (click here for info on this service) include all new product recommendations while others focus more on using what the client already has.  Today's featured project is a great example of how we gave a space a whole new look using mostly what the client already owned. 

Just prior to reserving her online design consultation, she purchased a brand new area rug (you can see the rug in this design board I created for her).  

She also had a relatively new sofa and chair combination in custom upholstery from Ethan Allen. 

She was craving a fresh new look for her family room, but did not want to replace items that were recently purchased.

We used these items in the design plan and still gave the space a whole new look.  One way we achieved this is by giving the fireplace wall a makeover.  The fireplace wall is the main focal point in the space.  By adding a new, chunky, white mantle…

and gorgeous new large-scaled artwork...

(please click here for details on this art)

...the main focal wall was completely transformed.  Giving the space an overall fresh new feel.  

Solid, light colored drapes freshened up the windows.  We suggested painting her current coffee/end tables as opposed to replacing them.  

We incorporated the clients collection of baskets.  We recommended displaying them by mounting a large peg rack over the media unit.  Pulling colors from the new art piece, we chose new accessories including toss pillows for the sofa…

Another way we dramatically changed the look and feel of this space was to replace the wood toned media hutch with a beautiful off white media suite (either a new media unit or a consigned piece painted white).  Adding a light colored media unit played off the new drapes and white moldings added to the fireplace.  These light colored elements provided contrast to the darker rug and upholstery and brightened up the design.

The most dramatic changes in this space are the fireplace wall, new drapes and colorful accessories.  These changes and additions gave the existing elements a fresh new life.  

For information on my affordable online design service, please click here.  I am now accepting new reservations if you would like a custom design plan for your space.

Longaberger basket image:  http://copycatcollector.blogspot.com/2012/05/collection-127-longaberger-baskets.html

Artwork: The Yellow Cape Cod Collection (click here for info)

© Copyright 2013 The Yellow Cape Cod

Sub Zero and Wolf Delicious Design Contest~$100 Visa Gift Card Giveaw

 

 

 

Recently, we gave our builder grade kitchen a fresh new semi-custom look with a budget friendly makeover. A few aesthetic improvements completely changed the look and feel of our space.  We took our kitchen from a bland utilitarian workspace to an inspiring hub of our home.

 

 

 

 We began our makeover by adding paint and molding to our stock grade, natural birch cabinetry.  Soft white paint applied to the cabinetry brightened up our dark kitchen.  Moldings and trim added to the tops of the cabinets made them appear taller, more like high end custom cabinetry.

 

 

Family friendly commercial grade wood laminate floors are both pretty and nearly indestructible. 

New black granite countertops, DIY black painted doors and DIY striped drapery added contrast, personality and drama.

 

 

A DIY wine/cookbook storage cabinet was incorporated by removing one of the cabinet doors and adding attractive storage baskets for bottles, glasses and our family's favorite cookbooks.

 

 

The kitchen is by far the busiest space in our home.  Now, it's a place we actually enjoy spending time in.  My husband and I both like to cook, my daughter loves to bake and our boys love to eat.  

 

 

Our busy lifestyle and love of entertaining inspired the design of our new kitchen.  To make our hectic days a little easier, clear glass jars filled with snacks double as countertop accessories.

 

 

 I chose a neutral color scheme to provide a nice backdrop for various seasonal decor and colorful party decorations that usually appear in our kitchen throughout the year.  

 

 

 Our kitchen is the place where we make the biggest messes,

have heart to heart conversations,
celebrate milestones,

 

 

 study for big tests,
make life decisions over coffee...

 

 

 teach Murphie new tricks,

 

 

and occasionally practice football...

 

 

 May it be ever so humble, our kitchen is not only the heart of our home, it is the hub of our family.  

 

This leads me to my choice for the Sub-Zero and Wolf Kitchen Design Contest.  The Kitchen Design Contest was created to honor and celebrate design professionals who incorporate Sub-Zero and Wolf products into kitchen designs that are both innovative and beautiful.  To celebrate the 10th Kitchen Design Contest, Sub-Zero and Wolf is giving away over $140,000 in cash prizes to winning design professionals – the largest amount of cash prizes to date. Categories for the 2010-2012 Kitchen Design Contest include Traditional, Contemporary, Online Designer’s Choice, Student Entries, and new this year, an online People’s Choice Award. 

 

 

{I've always had a crush on Wolf's iconic red knobs}

 

The People's Choice Award honors the top kitchen design entry as determined by the general public (you and I) via online voting.  The winner of the People's Choice Award will receive $15,000.  My vote will go to the kitchen that appears the most conducive to family life.  I'll be sure to share my choice in the comments soon, voting commences on April 1st and wraps up on the 30th.    

 

Check out all of the Kitchen Design Contest designs here and cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award. Tell me which design you voted for and why to be entered into a random drawing for one of 10 prizes ($100 Visa Gift Cards). 

 

 

Sweepstakes Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 4/1/13 - 4/30/13

Be sure to visit the Sub-Zero and Wolf brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!