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May 22, 2012

ATLANTA INTERIOR DESIGNER: Ramsgate Project Before & Afters...


Remember the Ramsgate Project? This was a client's rental property that was basically destroyed upon eviction. This was not a happy story...but a happy ending it will be! We were able to make it 10 times better than it was to begin with. Here are some before & afters I've been working on...


We changed the faux wood grain laminate counter top to a wonderful painted top! It's super durable, easy to fix if somehow the counter was damaged, and provides an incredible updated look for a fraction of the cost to replace the entire counter top. Available in solid colors or you can add colored specs to compliment the surroundings and add dimension. Thoughts?


This pictures shows the main living area. We changed the flooring from mauve to neutral which really shows off our new paint & trim. The tile threshold (at back door & hearth) blends much better with this carpet than the last. We used Sherwin-Williams color Tony Taupe for the walls. This color has a hint of gray which blends well with the existing stone work. The ceilings were painted the same color as the walls. This not only allows the space to appear larger, but also camouflages the pop corn ceilings.




This is the view of the stairwell with newly white painted trim, handrails & new carpeting. White is a little more bossy than the previous natural oak...and I kind of like that :)



Remember this? YUCK. Both bathrooms got matching painted counters, re grout of tile, deep extra-deep clean, and new paint & trim!

I'm so happy we were able to make this budget-friendly project turn out the way we did. Of course this is a rental-owners nightmare having to start back beyond square one to have their property be rentable again. This property is officially on the market again & ready to make a happy home! 

On another note... Heather Elizabeth Designs as a company is undergoing some amazing changes. Stay tuned for some very exciting updates!

 Happy Designing!
Heather




May 7, 2012

Quote of the day...

 
"In the most successful spaces you don’t see everything at once. The more time you spend in them, the more you discover. They open up like flowers."
 
Vicente Wolf


Happy Monday :)
Heather

May 1, 2012

ATLANTA INTERIOR DESIGNER: IKEA part one...

Happy May everyone!! It's an absolutely beautiful day in Georgia. 

I'm going to make May the month of.... IKEA.... yes you've heard me correctly.  IKEA, the decorating super-affordable super-store!

 There is definitely a love hate relationship with IKEA in the design industry. Some complain they've had quality issues with the product and I've even heard their product labeled as "throw away" furniture... yet when done right, it's so incredibly affordable and stylish. I own several accessories from IKEA and even a platform bed that's used in my guest room. Now, I'll admit it's not solid hardwood but it's cute, clean, and has lasted 6 years, three moves, and it's still going strong! This alone got me thinking about why I haven't visited there more often...especially when clients opt-out of accessorizing because it's not "in the budget". (No excuses since there is one just around the corner from me.)

 More & more designers and consumers alike are trying out their accessories & furniture to help create a stylish room with little dollars. I do believe that our two worlds designer vs. affordable can coexist. I have found some amazing inspiration from Maria Killam's blog Colour Me Happy and as always I'm eager to share.

Part One: Inspiration using real IKEA product


RIBBA frames creating the gallery. $9.99 each
These can be painted any color to match your decor,
you can also change out the matting to create a customizable look.


These two are Jonas desks from IKEA. I no longer see that one listed but I do see the BESTA which is similar for $99.00
Great choice for this happy office!


Sideboard BESTA BURS piece featured in 2nd photo. $399
The chrome table lamp compliments this piece perfectly.


A good example of how designer items can be used together with lesser expensive items. 
This home owner splurged on very expensive designer pillows and got these awesome Karlstad chairs from IKEA! $349 each...and it looks so expensive.



A room that was to be featured in a design magazine... guess where this dining table is from? You guessed it, IKEA's BJURSTA dining table for $199 that even has two leaves that extend the table to seat up to 8.  The chairs are from Pier One. This proves you don't have to break the bank to create a beautiful room.


Close up of the dining table and chairs. I would suggest a glass top be cut for this table if it was for every day use. Our local craft store, Hobby Lobby, cuts glass for very inexpensive (usually $100 or less).


Four BILLY Bookcases $79.99 each.
 In the photo above this designer painted the back panels blue and added molding pieces on top and between each to create a large bookcase instead of four individual ones.
 

Boys room featuring IKEA window treatments, lighting, and rug.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of us out there that do not have the money or connections to spend $1000's on updating our homes. That absolutely does not mean we shouldn't live in creative, beautiful spaces!

Stay Tuned for...

 Part Two - Creating a fresh & stylish room using IKEA.

and

Part Three - My trip to IKEA where I'll be your virtual shopping assistant :)

And of course for more advice on how to create a room on a budget, see this post.

Happy Designing!
Heather