Inspiration

This is what I am currently working on.  Not yet complete.  Looking forward to staging.  :)  Come back for my update on project details, dimensions, pricing, and staging.  Inspiration has me smiling.  :)

Cheryl is ready to go!

Details, process, and pricing coming soon.  I can see this in a mud or laundry room, entrance, or anywhere you need to sit and take your shoes off.  Even has storage for shoes, winter items, or whatever you need to store out of site but have at the ready.  :)

Completed Masterpieces

I was recently asked by a client to see one of my masterpieces, my stairs; my pride and joy. I get to see them everyday and they especially bring a smile to my face when I walk in the door.  The way they have transformed the home has been wonderful.  Everything feels fresh, and our personalities are better reflected with this rustic redo.  

Note:  You can barely see the old stairs (carpet runner) in this photo.

Since I was looking over previous projects I thought I'd share a few.  ENJOY!

Stairs

 Vanity

Queen Bed

Side Table






We have only been in the house with things delivered from overseas since October.  I did get a head start in September working with an empty space.  Although difficult to recall what I had coming from abroad, and in storage, I have managed to create workable space for our family.  It is a work in progress as we decide exactly how to make what we have function for us now.  Here are some photos of my design and decorating.  This is what works for our family, I would love to know and help you identify what works for yours; casual, formal, rustic, modern, eclectic, elegant, or traditional.  Or perhaps a combination of styles.  You decide, we can make it work.

Family Room - I have since found an old barn door that I have incorporated into the mantel display.  Perfect for adding height.



Sun Room - A favorite room in the house.  I recently added the chaise sofa and it is now the perfect after school hangout.  Stories are told here and I know many memories will be made here in this room.



As always, thanks for looking.

Come back next week..... I will have a challenge for you!

Stylish Modern Coffee Table

This is one solid coffee table.  Classically beautiful, and heavy with a modern flair.  I decided to complement its contemporary edge with black paint, and at the same time reduce the modernness with the aged look of driftwood.  I achieved this by color layering, color washing, and dry brushing.  This coffee table is awaiting waxing (clear) and staging; then it will be ready for purchase.

I used American Paint Company's (APC) Cannonball Black for the base.  The two-sided drawer and top were  coated with Annie Sloan's Paloma, and then layered and dry brushed with APC Smoke Signal and Cannonball Black.  I coated the top with two layers of clear wax, buffing heavily between each coat.
I'm really liking the surface!  Those who have seen it, LOVE it.

My experience.
I chose AS Paloma because it is a beautiful neutral with a hint of gray and lavender undertones.  I was anxious to use it and thought this was the perfect opportunity.  After seeing this type of trendsetting finish in just about every store, I wanted to tackle it myself.

Starting with AS Paloma, I was really liking the color that appeared after one coat on this solid oak table.  I store chalk paint cans upside down to avoid the pigment from settling on the bottom, and stir well before applying.  However, there were extreme color differences between the first and second coats of Paloma.  I attempted to dry brush Paloma as a second coat hoping for a richer color in places; however, the result was exactly opposite.  I had lighter spots all over that required me to apply a second coat to the entire surface.  From that point on, everything went as planned.
APC Cannonball is from their new Ellis Collection.  Per their website, American Paint Company Ellis Collection the Ellis Collection is "a grouping of old-world colors brought together for a new beginning for your treasures".  
I must say, I love this collection.  I did water down the paint as it is thick and heavily pigmented.  Its application is smooth, and the color is uniform.  It is a true black.  What you see, is what you get, before and after finishing.  

Staging pictures coming soon.

Don't forget to like my FB page.  Simply Stunning Style

Cheers!

Business is Growing!!

I have had quite an eventful couple of days.

First off, The Provence Cabinet sold!  It has a new owner and she has already sent a picture of my masterpiece in her home.  So HAPPY!  Not only do I have a new customer, but I also made a new friend.  Seems my buyer and I have a lot in common; two gals who can discuss design and decorating all day long.

While picking up an item I was purchasing, I met another customer.  She has ideas for converting her 12 yr old daughters "play room"  into a teen lounge.  While discussing design, she agreed to repurpose the item (desk) I was purchasing, into a vanity.  I cant wait to unveil her Birthday present from Mom and Dad.  So EXCITING!  I LOVE offering design and decorating advice.  Who knows, maybe I can be a part of the bedroom/teen lounge makeover.  :)

Today I met a customer who lives in my neighborhood. I was picking up an old buffet/hutch combo that I have two ideas for.  Hmmm.....  While in her basement she showed me a BEAUTIFUL dresser with a marble top that she has tried selling.  Well worth the $300 she'd been asking, there it sat without a purpose.....until I came along.  I have got her thinking about it's potential and hope to help her turn this into something she can use on her main level.  After some discussion, we headed upstairs to locate a new home for this beautiful piece.  I think we may have found one or two.  :)  Upstairs, she mentioned that she wants her kitchen cabinets redone.  Hmm, guess who may be quite busy soon?  On my to do list is to create sample cabinet doors of various requested colors to bring into the natural light of the home, because every color looks different in different light.  Stay tuned...

Met a photographer to capture images of my work.  Hoping to find someone to help build a website where I can use these images.  Looking forward to working with Stephanie personally and/or professionally.  Visit her website and get to know her work @ Ascari Photography

Lastly, discovered my neighbor is going to be my partner in crime at tomorrows barn sale (Ekster Hamilton, VA).  Cant wait!

Now updating the Blog and FB page to keep you all informed of new happenings, techniques, and experiences.

Thanks for all your interest and support.  I truly appreciate it and YOU.

Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it's really how it works.

Steve Jobs

Annie, William, and Harry - The Staging

Repaired, reupholstered, and restored chairs and table.  William, Harry, and Annie are complete and BEAUTIFUL together.

For sale:  $285.00 for the set.

Details:

Hand painted in American Paint Co. Lincoln's Hat and Upholstered in a neutral Greige quality upholstery fabric.  Finished with a Poly Top Coat for durability.  Complimented with decorator pillow to complete the look.

Table: 46" l x 27" w x 16.5" h
Chairs: 25" arm to arm at widest point, 21" across widest part of back, 38.5"h floor to top of chair back.

Annie, William, and Harry

My next project has been in the works.  I found this small Queen Anne style table that was in need of repair.  It had a broken leg that needed repairing, and it's surface was well loved.  After bringing her back to life, I enhanced her beauty with American Paint Company's Lincoln's Hat.  I debated on painting the entire table, in the end I decided to because I was getting tired of working the two tone look.  While repairing her, I found chairs that compliment her beautifully.  It took a while to decide on fabric for the seats.  I settled on something neutral with gray, beige, and pewter tones, an edgy sophistication that would pair with a pop of any color, and added extra padding for optimal comfort.

I love the end result.  I cant wait to stage these pieces and photograph.

I used the same process previously described with the paint.  This time I opted for American's water based top coat for the added durability required for table and chair use.  My prior experience with other water based top coats was better than this one.  I let the paint cure for 48 hours and still experienced drag.  Perhaps I applied too heavy?  The effect mimicked natural distressing that if left alone would have presented beautifully. The perfectionist in me made the mistake of trying to correct when I shouldn't have; I ended up having to reapply paint and finish, luckily to only one section of one piece.  ARGH!  Note to self............. PATIENCE!

Enjoy.
Let me know what you think.
And please visit my Facebook page at Simply Stunning Style.
Simply Stunning Style The Royals
Cheers.

By the way, if you find yourself wanting to try American Paint Company's products (I love them) and you live in the area, visit Melissa Harris and her Mom at Totally Vintage Design in Haymarket, VA.  Tell them Melanie sent you. You'll enjoy the experience.

Provence Cabinet

When I found this piece I didn't really know what I was going to create with it.  My creativity was nowhere to be found.  To top it off, Bill (my husband) doubted its potential.  After sitting in storage for a few months, it came to me; I wanted it to be a statement piece.  To avoid the existing drabness, and since Bill said it was "UGLY", I decided to spice it up with color. 

Picking color was easy.  The rustic look of Annie Sloan's Provence with clear and dark wax was an easy pick for me.  It’s currently one of my favorite hues.  It’s one of the hottest trending colors and will work for many customers.  Now that I had a color in mind, I decided to distress (apply dark wax) to add some rustic beauty.  For the interior of the cabinet, I decided on Annie's Paris Grey with clear wax.  I realized that in order to achieve true rustic elegance I needed to incorporate another element of texture for visual interest.  Should I texture the paint, layer the paint, or replace glass with wire mesh?  As you can see, wire won!  The result is a beautiful multipurpose cabinet that I am going to have a difficult time parting with.  

Let me know what you think. 

The cabinet can serve many uses in a variety of settings; an extra cabinet in the kitchen, liquor cabinet in the dining, storage for extra towels and toiletries in the bathroom, or as a nail and makeup bar in a teen’s room. The choices are endless. 

Annie’s products, in my experience have been relatively easy to use.  I have heard mixed reviews on applying dark wax; my experience was pain free using the following procedure.  

I used Styrofoam plates to paint and wax from, allowing me to distribute the material into the brush.  This is especially important when using dark wax on a lighter piece.  I have not yet purchased brushes, I would like to compare brushes and gather reviews before deciding on which will meet my needs.  To enhance the distressing of the dark wax, I used 220 grit sand paper to rough the edges before application.  A shoe polish brush I purchased at Target was used to buff the wax 12+ hours after application, I have two; one for clear wax and one for dark wax.

After talking with various colleagues in the business, doing some research on pricing, and calculating my time and costs I priced it at $225.  A piece with less artistic characteristics would sell in PB or RH for considerably more.  ;)  Until it sells, I’ll enjoy the likes I get on my post, pictures, and Facebook page.

Cheers!  Thanks for reading.Simply Stunning Style Provence Cabinet

Starting a Business.....Let's Do This!

Whew!  This is a lot of work.  Only a month and I feel I need an assistant already.  :)  I don't mind, investing in my creative passion is pure joy.  Today, I decided to start a blog and share all my practical knowledge.  After a good amount of reading and researching small business startups and paints/finishes; collecting furniture and home goods that still have life in them; finding a mentor; and participating in formal instruction to enhance my skills and get my creative juices flowing, I really couldn't wait to get hands on.  I am experimenting with many different paints and finishes.  I will tell you what I like and don't like; price, availability, manufacture coordinating supplies, adherence, dry time, etc., about the products I use.  Basically, my experiences as I go.  I will post my finds, and share my before and after pictures.  My items will be for sale, I wish my house was big enough to keep them.  I may have to find room for those pieces I simply cannot part with.  I will let you know which ones they are.  My company is Simply Stunning Style and I hope you enjoy this journey with me.  Let's Have FUN!

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