Shelter Loves....

Happy Fri-yay!! I had a great design meeting today with a client I have worked with in the past! A big part of my business involves building relationships. I love watching my clients lives evolve and their families grow. The personal connections I make through my job is one of the most rewarding aspects!
I was working away on quite a few projects this week so my brain is in need of a day off.. Here is what caught my eye in the process! Peace out, have a relaxing weekend!

1. I designed a nursery yesterday. I love creating spaces for children that they can grow into. Designer, Nick Olsen did just that with this beautiful nursery design. Image via Veranda.
2. I'm kinda digging the platform wedge shoes that are out right now. They are stylish and comfy..A win, win in my book!
3. God, don't we all know this!! I've got to learn to move on a bit better.
4. I've decided to finally finish my personal photo wall in my home. I loved this mix of images and the simple framing used here.
5. + 6. My wonderful client and I walked through her new home today. It is a beautiful house with so much opportunity. We talked about injecting her home with moments of black and white stripes. The classic combo is perfect when done right! This Dorothy Draper designed floor is a great example of the look I adore! I'm also loving this moto jacket layered over a summery striped dress. Find a similar dress here.

Office Update - Shelter

Hello, hello!! We have been working away on a number of projects at Shelter but today I squeezed in some time to put together our new office boards. Don't cringe at the before photos of the area - (images below). This is what we are working with for space. I can't rip out the floor tile but I will be covering as much as I can with a rug. We are painting the walls a very pale grey and recovering the windows in simple woven shades. I may even custom order a large seagrass rug to lay under the black and white rug. I want to cover as much of the tile as possible!!

I wanted to create a clean, fresh office. I will be setting up a large inspiration board to tack fabrics and design ideas to. (I love Kelly Wearstler's over sized board - image below). I also own a number of the items that we will be using. (I'm sort of a chair addict so I have collected a number of random chairs). I have linked to the rest of the items. This space will also be created on a budget. Meg (my fabulous design assistant), myself and Matty hope to finish it up by the beginning of May!!
I will be sure to share the after photos with you!

BEFORE: 

Painting the walls a very pale, pale grey. Clark+Kensington's CW-C3

1.  Brass lamps
2. We will use a mix of vintage containers for our pens and pencils. Via Etsy and thrift shops.
3.  Melltorp Ikea table x 2 (using as desks)
4. + 5. I own two Eames chairs and will throw sheep skin rugs over them for comfort.
6. Hustle print
Ikea rug - Stockholm rug
7.  Storage baskets for samples and project fabrics
8.  Cheery artwork
9. Kelly Wearstler's design boards
10. Smaller pin boards for business cards, calendars etc.
11. + 13 I own two chairs similar to these. We will use them around a round glass top table that I already own. This will serve as a meeting and secondary work area.
12. Two pillows to use on the wooden chairs. Loving these!!

Happenings......

Hola! Happy Thursday! I thought I'd share with you what is going on around here at Shelter. I'm working on a few great design projects and wrapping some others up as well! You might as well focus on the interior of your home when the exterior is covered in snow......

I've been working with one client for over a year! They are wonderful people and I can't wait to share their beautiful home photos with you when the project is completed! Here is a peek at their foyer design and a malachite console I had custom made for them. I work with some fabulous work rooms and the sky is the limit to what they will fabricate for me. I simply provide the drawings + inspiration sketches and viola! Perfection....Photography: Sarah Winchester

WORKING ON.....

I used Ace Hardware's Clark+Kensington paint for these two projects in the following color: Walls: Abstract Gray N-C26

FINISHED UP this bright and cheery kitchen for another client.......Photography by: Ann-Marie Rollo

Paint colors: Cabinets: Designer White - 1066

Walls: White Moon 35A-1

AT SHELTER: 

My assistant, Meg and I are going to begin to set up our new office space. We will be co-sharing the space with Matty, so he would like to set up his area (understandable ;) ) "The girls" area will be inspired by these images. We just need to wait for the 6' of snow to melt a bit before moving in but I suppose we can begin to paint. Stay tuned for the before and afters of the space this Spring!! I'll be sharing an office design board soon.

The office is going to mix clean white, smokey pinks/greys and brass. I want it as open and bright as possible. I will have a work area and a central round table. I already own most of the items I want to use, which is a good thing!

I prefer to work on a large flat surface such as a table as opposed to a small desk. So I'll be heading to Ikea for two white tables/desks.

The space will combine these elements...

This is Kelly Wearstler's office...I mean don't get me wrong, my office could fit on that table top but I'm liking the mix of smokey colors..

I also LOVE these colors

I love a clean white desk and organized work space. Image via

My Thanksgiving table

Today I am thrilled to share my Thanksgiving table with you all! As most of you know I hosted in my little house. I don't have a large family, so it wasn't an issue. I had a fire lit (thanks to Matty) and served all of my favorite dishes.  Along with turkey we had candied sweet potatoes, whipped mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade stuffing and apple pie.

The table setting mixed both vintage and new elements, including dessert dishes that have been in my family for years. The small dogs on the bar table were also my Grandmothers.

My children and I gilded the pumpkins together to prep for the day and my assistant, Meg and my Mom helped me set the table. A great event isn't complete without a stocked bar! I included the bar area photos too. You can also get a glimpse of my message center area. You have to make great use of every inch of space in a small home! 

Cheers, I hope you enjoyed seeing a bit of my home. I also wanted to thank the photographer Ann-Marie Rollo for her wonderful eye and patience! This shoot took place on the darkest and rainiest of days but we pulled it off. Meg, Ann-Marie and I happily sipped wine by the fire afterwards! A big thanks to my Dad for lighting the fire that day!

The gilded paint is available at most Ace Hardware stores.. The wall color I used is from the Clark+Kensington and OPI nail lacquer collaboration. It is one of my favorite white shades called: Don't Touch My Tutu. It is a beautiful white color with the perfect amount of warmth.   

Product info:

Vintage gold glasses from: High Street Market

Bees wax candles: Creative Candles ** these candles did not drip, they burned beautifully.

Shelter Project - sneak peek

I wanted to share a sneak peek of a kitchen revamp I am working on. So far I've had the floors white washed and a beautiful hexagon design painted.
Color used for hex design: Clark+Kensington's: Garden Stone N-C10.
The painting was done by a good friend, artist and fellow design blogger Danika from Gorgeous Shiny Things. She did a fab job. Next up?? I am having the cabinets sprayed white, a built in bench made, new lighting and existing chairs sprayed in navy blue. I'll be sure to share the before (see below image for before) and after with you all!  Eventually my client would like to add a back splash and a new counter top. Shelter is also finishing off this long term client's family room design.

these images don't include the finish coat over the top. I chose to use a satin finish.

Here is the "before" floor. It was a dated, country look.

And some more painted floor ideas I'm loving......

Kate Spade store