PROJECT ORGANIC GLAM

I'm so excited to get started on a new luxury condo project involving a few of my favorite fall colors--plum, mustard, green, brown, you get the idea. We're also combining a few rustic elements to pull together a look I call Organic Glam... Weathered wood, mirrored accents, crushed velvet, and a fun feminine color palette is what I prescribed for this stylish female doc. I also pulled inspiration from this breakfast/sitting area designed by Christy Dillard for the 2011 ASO Showhouse. This was one of my favorite spaces in the home. I could've lingered here all afternoon.

The upholstered chairs below made me regret not adding teal to the design plan. Can't wait to see what I find once I start shopping.

 
What colors will you incorporate in your home this fall?

SMITTEN BY: STACKED FIREWOOD

I apologize in advance for ruining your last days of summer with a mention of stacked firewood, but I just can't help myself. At this very moment, the look on your face is probably the same look the Home Depot associate gave me when I asked for 12 bundles of firewood in the midst of 90 degree heat. Luckily they had a pallet stored in a shed and sold them to me for $1.00 per bundle! Nice!

I used the wood to fill my clients' unused fireplace as a part of an ongoing design project. Hopefully, I'll soon have more photos to share with you. Here's a progress shot below. She has two little ones that couldn't wait to cover themselves in the soot left by the previous homeowners [see inset] so I had to act fast. I absolutely love the results.

via Erika Ward Interiors

Unfortunately, I have a gas fireplace that doesn't require real wood so I won't be able to do something like this in my own home. The stacked wood has such a sculptural quality and the price can't be beat.

via House to Home

via Darryl Carter / Elle Decor

If you actually plan to use your fireplace for a purpose other than storing wood, the option below would be a better fit.

via houzz.com

via Kay Douglass / House Beautiful

via Joanna Goddard

HOW TO ADD CONTRAST TO A BUILT-IN BOOKCASE

"It looks great to me." was my husband's response when I told him I was headed back to my client's house to make a few more updates. I, on the other hand, was not convinced. Sure the transformation that took place in their family room was nothing short of amazing. We went from this:

to this...

But I couldn't resist adding a bit of texture to the back of the bookcases and I knew a little seagrass wallpaper would make all the difference. I purchased 1/8" hardboard from Lowes [had it cut to size at the store], adhered the wallpaper to the board with spray adhesive, then propped them up in the bookcase using the shelves to hold the boards in place.

Done!

We also installed a custom roman shade above the sink that coordinates perfectly with the drapery panels. I purchased the runner from World Market and love how it picks up the colors from the neighboring family room. See how the runner introduces a flirty fuchsia to soften up the other wise masculine look. The man of the house isn't too fond of it so I'll be shopping for other options! I had an opportunity to enjoyed it for about 20 minutes...

How have you used grasscloth wallpaper in your home?

Is you home begging for attention? Contact me (404) 507-6110 to get your interior spaces on the road to a beautiful transformation!

OH BOY! A HANDSOME NURSERY FIT FOR A LITTLE GENTLEMAN

Thank goodness Baby J did not arrive before I had the opportunity to finish his room. It could've meant trouble for me. How unfair it would be for his big sister to receive a new room, complete with canopy, and leave him with her leftovers? Unacceptable. I had to give this little gentleman a proper homecoming.

It's nice to know he's not waiting for me to finish his room. Instead we are waiting patiently for him.

Mission accomplished.

The daybed was replaced by the crib and the walls received a new wall color, Benjamin Moore's Northern Air. Isn't it amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to transform a space? And how handsome is that light fixture? See Dad...no chandelier in your boy's room. I heard you loud and clear.

Semi-custom drapery were installed with a 3" ticking stripe banding sewn on the bias. It costs a little extra, but the diagonal stripe adds more interest to the panels. Woven bamboo shades replace the white wood blinds and instantly makes the space feel warmer. The double layered treatment gives Nesting Mama the advantage of full light control especially since the panels also have blackout lining.

The front of the pillow was made from a fabric remnant I initially purchased for my kids' playroom. When I saw how close the match was to Nesting Mama's existing bedding, I had to do the right thing and hand it over. I'm so glad I did. Did you notice the pillow piping has the same ticking stripe and the drapery? Yup, I meant to do that! Design is in the details!

Nesting Mama previously selected the crib bedding and I took the opportunity to customize it a bit by having the crib skirt made in the same fabric as the drapery.

"I really want a circular pillow for the crib," said Nesting Mama. Note: In case you didn't know you always give a pregnant woman what she wants. It makes for a happy baby --ok, I made that up, but I used to tell my husband that all the time. It worked for me but I digress. I found this orange dotted fabric while shopping at my new spot, Artee Fabrics. The opposite side of the fabric is the reverse colorway which we used on the button and piping! Lastly, Nesting Mama needed a tight spot to do the dirty [diaper] work. I usual don't like to hanging items over a baby's head, but these cardboard letters are harmless. Yes, I said cardboard. I simply applied a metallic faux finish technique I learned from Janell. This has to be the easiest DIY project I've ever tried.

There are a couple more things I plan to do in the space:

#1.

Having to deliver these pieces gives me the perfect excuse to visit once the baby arrives!

Are you making room for a new baby or need help with your kid's room? Contact me (404.507.6110 / info (at) erikaward (dot) com) today to schedule your consultation!

THE SOPHISTICATED NURSERY

Last week I shared a photo of the fabrics I'm using in my client's nursery. Almost immediately I got an email from another client who saw the post. She requested that I mark her file to use the same fabric in her unborn/yet-to-be-conceived baby. Funny, huh? In her email she explained how she loved how the fabrics didn't scream baby, but would appear sophisticated like the rest of her home.

I've heard mixed opinions about whether to decorate a baby's room in the traditional baby colors or update them for a more mature look. This room, which I'm installing today, will have a mixture of both. There's no shortage of baby animals in this space, but there is also a mix of fabrics [image right] that will grow with him. The brown and cream ticking stripe will trim the leading edge of chocolate brown drapery panels as well as the custom crib skirt. The multicolored polka dot fabric will cover a lumbar pillow for the glider. The orange dotted fabric will be an accent pillow for the crib. No worries, Mom knows to remove the pillow when the baby is in it.

The jumping off point for the room was this bedding my client already purchased. The customized cribskirt as mentioned above will really help to customize the set. Note: This is not the crib we are using.

I love the look of layered window treatments, so we're adding bamboo shades to the drapery mix similar to this:

via Jill Shevlin

I hate to keep you in suspense...really, I do. Will try to post a few snippits on twitter thoughout the day. Click here to follow me for updates! What are your thoughts on sophisticated nurseries?

CLIENT FAMILY ROOM ALMOST COMPLETE!

Remember this post where I used oversized photography in my clients' home? Well, not only have we completed the feature wall, but we also hung drapery and artwork in the space.

Pardon the photo quality. They were taken at 11:00pm, but you can still see the transformation that took place here.

Before, the only light source in the room was from the dated ceiling fan. Now, the room boasts a total of four sources: a sleek, streamline fan, two wooden table lamps, and a tripod floor lamp. The couple's artwork inspired the color palette for the design. Navy blue, silvery gray, and matte gold were their wedding colors and now make another appearance in their new home. To soften the look of the space, I had my workroom customize ready made drapery panels with pinched pleats and had a 3" band of navy fabric sewn on the leading edge and at the hem of the panels. Handsome, aren't they!

I've got a plan for styling the bookcases that I will cover that in another post. We also are tossing around a few ideas for an area rug, but I personally think the room looks fantatic without it. Here's another look at the photography wall:

Behind the family room is the breakfast table and kitchen. I also had a pair of panels made for the french doors leading to the deck. I replaced the old chandelier with this drum shade pendant light I bought for a song and dance! Don't you love when that happens?

Hopefully, I'll be done soon so that I can share the entire space. This is surely more than a sneak peek. Hope I didn't spoil it for you! P.S. Next time, I'll take photos in daylight so you can see the true colors. So what do you think?

GIRL'S ROOM: IF YOU LOVE PAISLEY + PINK

"I want to make it beautiful for her. With all the transition she is experiencing right now she deserves it," my client explained. I could hear the concern in her voice. "We're moving her to the guest room, the new baby will take her old room, she's starting kindergarten in the Fall and I just don't want her to feel left out." As I surveyed the adjacent rooms I could see this concern for her daughter had also kicked her nesting instincts into overdrive. Her growing belly also indicated that time was of the essence. She needed my help STAT. It was time to purge the guest room and create a space for Little Big Sister with room to grow.

The inspiration for this room came from a duvet she'd originally purchased from Pottery Barn kids. It was nice, but the colors were very muted. For the direction we were headed this room needed more punch. Pale pink became intensified pink! We kept the walls neutral with Duron's Mushroom Basket and focused on lots of color, pattern, and pom-pom fringe!

Remember the story about the canopy? The moral of the story had more to do with client satisfaction than anything else. Little Big Sister's choice of canopy overruled my recommendation. Lesson: Some five-year olds do in fact have good taste. I'm in love.

When sunlight floods your child's room at 5:30AM you, like Nesting Mama, should also request blackout drapery. Windows dressed in double layers delay the sunrise and help your wee ones to get a good night's rest which in turn decrease morning crankiness.

Blackout drapery = Mom's best friend.

B/O drapery + coordinating tie backs + pom pom fringe = Designer's best friend.

Even when your budget is slim, buy the best window treatments your money can afford. Window coverings, without a doubt, help to make a space feel complete!

My favorite clients are one that trust me. Little direction was given here, but there were many clues to guide my decisions along the way. Little Big Sister and her family take lots of photos. With these customized fabric corkboards, she can display her favorite pics/artwork and change it up at her discretion.

Lastly, what's a girl's room without a touch of BLING? It's like offering a cupcake to someone without the icing. Just plain wrong. Well, I'm only half kidding but adding a reflective element in a space is always a winning idea. The best part about it is that you'll hear a gasp from the unsuspecting client, one always seems to escape their lips.

So fortunate to have another satisfied client in Little Big Sister, but there is one thing that worries me. After a few more thank yous and a big warm hug, she abruptly stopped and warned me not to make the baby's room prettier than hers [oh the pressure!] Unsure of the blacklash that may ensue if I fail to take her warning seriously, I promised her that his room wouldn't be pretty at all. Handsome, not pretty, is what I'm trying to achieve. I hope she's convinced.

Are you in transition right now? Is your home crying out for some TLC? Contact me. I can help.

PINK, GREEN, AND POM-POM FRINGE

Gearing up this morning to install Canopy Girl's bedroom. Just snapped a camera phone pic of what's in store for today!

Who wouldn't get excited about a pink and green color palette and spirited pom-pom fringe? Stay tuned for updates!

CAVIAR WISHES AND CANOPY DREAMS

Last week, I finally met my youngest client face-to-face. I love designing for little ones and now have the privilege of completing her room and her arriving baby brother. Even more adorable in person, she ran her tiny hands over my fabric selections and squealed with delight over her new candy-coated mint green lamps. In addition to her great taste in design, her reactions to my selections made me love her instantly. My presentation was coming to a close and I asked if she had any last requests. Her reply almost made me giggle like a five-year-old. "I want a canopy."

A canopy? Shucks, I want a canopy too but this isn't about me. So we showed her a few photos to get a better idea of what she wanted.

Hoping she'd chose something similar to the above images instead she declined them all. *GASP*

Surely, I though she'd like this one, but it was denied too!

With great conviction, "THIS, is the one I want."

Sure this one is cute, but it has a lot less pomp and circumstance than the ones I got excited about. My dream of draping layers of fabric from the ceiling [insert sad face] was deferred to the wants of this cute little 5-year old. It was settled. She was happy and that's all that truly mattered.

When I said my goodbyes and loaded my things back into the truck I laughed to myself about our differing opinions and appreciated the experience. Besides, maybe I'll have better luck convincing baby brother to go with my canopy idea.

MAKING PROGRESS...

Remember the project I shared with you that featured oversized photography? Well, we are almost done! I dropped items off at the couple's home with plans to install next week, but the Mr. & Mrs. got excited and took matters into their own hands. So far, so good...

BEFORE

MAKING PROGRESS:

Just one more photo to go and I can't wait to show you the window treatments. They've got a custom look at a retail price! Stay tuned for the after shots next week.

It's amazing what photography, artwork, and accessories do for the home. Check out this dining area designed by Richard Mishaan. Here's one way you can enjoy Summer all year long.

Refreshing, isn't it? I'm constantly moving and changing things around in my house and just curious to know how often would you change the photographs in a display like this?

OVERSIZED PHOTOGRAPHY

One of my latest design projects includes the use of oversized photography. My clients, a newlywed couple I worked with last year, invited me back to work on the family room. They already have their major furniture items and custom built-in bookcases and are now looking for help with accessorizing the space.

One of their requests is to showcase their engagement photos somewhere in the space. Wanting to propose something a bit more daring than the usual gallery wall, I presented them with this inspiration image:

A formidable grid of oversized photography makes for an impressive statement in any setting...and most unexpected in a family room!

There was a brief silence followed by the words I hoped to hear, "I love it!" [insert wife's hand clapping here]. Without further delay I headed to Ikea to pick up 6 of these 24" x 40" Ribba frames priced at $24.99. Not bad.

Once seeing these babies in person I seriously thought twice about this design [ok maybe three times]. Enormous I tell ya. But the most awesome part of the story is that my clients aren't the least bit intimidated and we're pressing on.

The prints were ordered on Friday and we are all so anxious to get the first frame hung. Stay tuned for updates.

Need more inspiration? Here are a few more images to get your creative juices flowing:

This layout was one of my first considerations because of it's conservative display of one photo. I also loved that it was flanked by two wall lamps leaving more surface area on the end tables. image: Mrs. Howard

If my clients decided against the grid display in the family room, I would've suggested using an oversized photo in their entry way. image: Jeffers Design Group

Black and white photography also is a viable option, but for the images I'm working with, color would be best! image: Traditional Home

Have you displayed oversized photography in your home? If so, share your spaces with us on my facebook page! What do you think about the proposed design?