lesson in design :: a sofa love story
Friday, May 17, 2013 by {darlene}

A sofa love story

This week, I have been texting my best-est buddies and pestering the living-snot out of my husband, seeking sage advice. And I was also kind of hoping they would let me know if I had completely lost my marbles.

You see, I found THE PERFECT sofa.

It just so happens that I found it at THE MOST IMPERFECT time {ahem: I happen to have a nursery to prepare. And a new library / school room. And no spare cash hanging around as a result. You know the drill}.

And not only that, this “perfect sofa” has one teensy-weensy little problem…. It is covered in brittle, cream, antique silk. Original from 1959. Yes.

Did I mention this sofa would go in the most widely used room in our home?

AND, that I have two boys, ages 7 and 5 who I happily encourage to play in the mud?

AND that I am about to have a BABY??

but you see, that is why this is a love story.

I can tell you, I am not an irrational shopper. I am also not a fickle shopper. I know what I love, and I only regret my purchases on rare occasions. And, once I purchase something I love: I am loyal. I don’t tend to tire of my purchases or get major itches to revamp everything.

Why am I telling you all this? Well, I think there is a HUGE LESSON in it.

Know what kind of a shopper you are. Know thyself.

It is really important to know whether or not you are:

1. The loyal shopper: you buy what you love and stick with it for years.

2. The mid-road endurance shopper: you buy what you love and some of what you like, and then, suddenly, one day you are ready for a new style.

3. The fickle shopper: no matter how hard you try, you cannot stick with any  look or style for very long.

Now, here at Fieldstone Hill Design, you will always hear me pushing you toward #1. I believe that the more you gain confidence in your own loves, and the more you know your own personal style, the better quality you can invest in, and the more you can stick with what you love for the long haul. A true love story.

But if you are a #2 or #3, there is really nothing wrong with that! I still want to encourage you: try to improve upon fickle shopping habits, if only to save yourself money and time in the long run. But maybe becoming the #2 mid-road endurance shopper is as far as you are going to ever get – and that is fine! Because the world {and decor!} needs change sometimes.

The biggest takeaway from all of this?:

Know what kind of a shopper you are.

Know yourself , but also grow daily in knowing your own personal style. { <– Tweet This }

Because it will help you avoid big shopping mistakes. And it will help you take risks when you need to. Like taking a chance on love.

Like in my sofa love story.

I needed to take a risk. This piece is a one-of-a-kind. And it simply had “Darlene” written all over it. We were meant to be together, cream silk or not.

And while it may sit in my family room with sheets over it for a bit, until I muster up the cash to recover this beauty,… it will be worth it in the end. Love always is.

You see, I happen to know that I am shopper #1. I will not change my mind about this piece. I will not get fickle about her beauty. I will not fall out of love.

So. is it really a risk after all?

Enough pontificating. Do you want to see my spoils? {don’t go falling in love, now. she’s spoken for.} a sofa love story vintage silk sectional 1959 - a sofa love story1 vintage silk sectional 1959 - a sofa love story2 vintage silk sectional 1959 - a sofa love story3 vintage silk sectional 1959 - a sofa love story4

a sofa love story {hover over the image to share some Pinterest love}

 

A very special thank you to Leland Couchman {yes. that is is REAL name. Talk about fulfilling your destiny}, the extremely helpful sales expert at Jayson Home. He answered all of my many questions, and several phone calls, with forthrightness and down-to-earth advice, and I was able to make a good decision thanks to him.

And now, all. I must know:

What kind of a shopper are YOU? 1, 2 or 3?

And is it time for a little furniture love story of your own?

 

 

 

 

 

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Fieldstone Hill Design is offering a new design service! Transform your home in just 2 hours!

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design board :: a soothing family room
Thursday, May 16, 2013 by {darlene}

A Soothing Family Room

I have to admit. I am really loving this soothing family room design that I recently created for a client. To me, it has the perfect balance of soothing colors and comforts, and yet, there is no lack on contrast and dramatic pops to keep the room energy alive!

This is the third design board I have done for this client, and I just have to take a moment to tell you how deeply grateful I am for her. She has been so supportive of me and my business and my family in every way. I am so thankful that this awesome job of mine introduces me to such fantastic people. Sweet friend, you mean the world to me!

And especially with that said, I am looking forward to seeing this room evolve and how it will bless my client and her family. She and her husband desired a place where they can all gather, comfortably, as a family. A space where there is plenty of seating, and plenty of places to put up your feet. A space where TV watching can be enjoyed, but the visual focus would be the lovely space. We worked hard together to achieve those goals and create this soothing family room.

So much to love!!:

Soothing Family Room

What I love about this space:

1. The neutral backdrops, and the big punches of contrasting black and navy.

2. Those floor-to-ceiling, eye-catching drapes! A simple white curtain with a bold border of black adds so much drama in such a simple way.

3. Bookshelves are given new life with painted backs and bronze lights.

4. All of the spa blues. Including a spa blue loveseat. My client already tells me how much this is adding to the space – how exciting!

5. Fabric art behind the sofa. And I was so tickled when my client sent me this link to a GORG show-house room {well after our design board was finished!}, using  a similar print, framed behind the sofa – and the same fabric used to cover the chairs and pillows!! And it was designed by a FAVE of mine, Miles Redd. How fun!

6. A corner desk gives hubby a great window view, in a beautiful room.

7. The rattan seating, in a pair. Bringing in more of the fun spa blue and navy.

8. The Suzani pillows. Such a great find!

9. A gorgeous console brings attention away from the TV and brings balance to that wall of the room.

10. Bold borders!!: the natural rug with black border, the white curtains with black border, and the black lampshades with white borders! Yay for Contrast!

11. The bar area: featuring a rattan bar-cart, a mid-century gold drink set, and butterfly prints.

 

What do you think of this eDesign*?  I love hearing your thoughts!

 

*{If you are thinking of the Vision Design Board Consultation for your home, you may have noticed that my wait-list is closed. Due to my upcoming maternity leave, I am currently only accepting new Skype Consultation clients. This is a GREAT solution for addressing your design challenges throughout your entire home, and for getting a start on adding beauty to your home TODAY! Read more about the consult here, and read testimonials here.}

 

 

 

 

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Labeled: design boards | 11 Comments
{ this is beautiful } a birthday post
Tuesday, May 14, 2013 by {darlene}

On my birthday today, I wanted to dwell on the beauty around me. The beauty that already exists. The beauty I sometimes miss. And the beauty that makes living all the richer.

I am filled with joy today. And thankful.

{ this is beautiful }

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All images are taken from {this is beautiful} the Master Designer Pinboard, a collaborative Pinboard comprised of some of the most amazing women I know, featuring things of beauty.

I hope you will join us in following {this is beautiful}.

 

 

 

 

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Fieldstone Hill Design is offering a new design service! Transform your home in just 2 hours!

Find out more about this consultation here: The Skype “In-Home” Consultation

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I am LOVING the selection of gorgeous items at Inside Stores LLC! Have you ever checked them out?

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ditto :: a small bedroom {using every nook wisely}
Monday, May 13, 2013 by {darlene}

A Small Bedroom & Using Every Nook Wisely

I hope all of my friends had a wonderful and beauty-filled mother’s day, as a mother or celebrating your mother! Mine was filled with lots of special treatment, but most of all, my heart was full as I took the time to enjoy the precious children – the greatest gift I have ever been given.

Also, thank you for all of your sweet, and hee-larious comments on my last post about nesting and freaking out! Along with all the freaking out, I truly am enjoying this pregnancy.

And speaking of children, today’s ditto * is a child’s bedroom. This is a rather small bedroom, and I am in LOVE with how every nook and cranny and corner is used wisely. Read on for great ways that you can ditto the tricks of interior designers and make the most out of any small room.

*{What exactly is a ditto? :: The list below will break down for you many of the decorating concepts that are employed in this great space. As with all of our dittos, let’s study the DETAILS of what makes this space SO AMAZING, so that we can learn how to add more beauty to our own homes!!! And, as always, I look forward to hearing from you and finding out what you would ditto, too. So, be thinking!

small bedroom

 {via Katie Ridder, design by Katie Ridder, See Park Avenue Portfolio}

{for more amazing Katie Ridder spaces, click here}

 

DITTO :: {WHAT I WOULD STEAL FROM THIS SPACE}:

1.    BUILT-INS, THE SECRET WEAPON.

The useful, space-saving effect of built-ins on a tiny space cannot be stressed enough. Built-ins can be customized to make the most of any nook or cranny. They can even offer a narrow alternative to a piece of furniture, as is seen above with the desk and off to the right with a dresser-like surface. Ditto!

2.   LONG LINES. 

Accentuate the only open flooring in the room. This bedroom only has a minimal amount of exposed floor. But what is exposed is accentuated by long stripes that pull the eye forward.  Ditto!!

3.  HAVE FUN WITH PATTERN AND COLOR, BUT STILL LEAVE BREATHING ROOM.

Creative pattern on the ceiling, bright color on the walls, stripes on the rug, colorful books in the bookshelves, and gorgeous geometrics on the daybed and sheets. It all works so well together because the eye is given plenty of breathing room: The solid sofa with strong white piping, the white on the sheets, the same color on the walls and the built-ins, the simple white shade, the solid white lampshade and the white in the art. Ditto!

4. GLOSSY WALLS.

I don’t believe these walls are fully-lacquered, but they do appear glossy to me. Glossy walls allow light to bounce around the room, helping a small face feel larger. Ditto.

5.  DISPLAY IN STYLE.

It could easily be missed, but I love the fantastic detail of adding a built-in cork board area on the right side of our desk. We all have things we want to keep handy, or keep on display. Why not display them in style!? Ditto!

6.  USING A TRAY AS A BEAUTIFUL DECOR LAYER AND EXCUSE TO ADD COLOR.

Oh, you know how I feel about this!! Check out some gorgeous tray inspiration. Ditto! DIY!!

7.  PATTERN PLAY.

I love how this space features so many different patterns. Each individual pattern is sophisticated and full of beautiful detail. None of them match, and they all work together. Ditto!

8. COLOR PLAY.

It is the color scheme of blue and green that keeps this space unified, despite all of the pattern play I was just talking about. But note: these tones are not all matchy matchy. Instead, all of the blues have a little or a lot of green undertones. All of the greens lean toward the chartreuses. If all the colors actually matched exactly, this room would lose all of its dimension. Ditto!

 

 

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SO much goodness.

Love anything I did not mention? or…

WHAT WOULD YOU DITTO {STEAL} FROM THIS SPACE, 1-8? SOMETHING ELSE?

I LOVE HEARING YOUR THOUGHTS!

 

 

 

 

* * * * *

Fieldstone Hill Design is offering a new design service! Transform your home in just 2 hours!

Find out more about this consultation here: The Skype “In-Home” Consultation

* * * * *

Follow Fieldstone Hill on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook! Can’t wait to see you there.

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{affiliate link. Thank you for reading, and for supporting the free content at FHD!}

Shop original works of art from the Art Collection at Serena & Lily.

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Labeled: ditto | 5 Comments