Scheming Archives - Page 4 of 5

Scheming: Master Bedroom In Florida Condo

I haven’t posted many photos of our little Delray Beach condo, mainly because until this summer it had white wall-to-wall carpeting, tan walls with navy blue and hunter green trim, a plethora of pink tiles, and dingy blinds. This summer, we had the whole place done with cork flooring and all the walls painted bright white. Yesterday I spiffied up the master bedroom and took some photographs. Given the limited accessories at my disposal (not to mention the small budget) and my ineptitude with a camera, they’re hardly print ready, but you can get a sense of how it’s coming along. Here’s our beach bedroom makeover, unveiled.

BeddingStyle.com sent me a beautiful bright white Puckered Diamond Matelasse Coverlet and Shams by Vera Wang for the bed. I layered the coverlet with our existing grey fleece blanket for a mix of cozy and crisp. I love the result. (The simple white bed frame from West Elm we got when we first moved in.)

The artwork is an original painting by Lulu de Kwiatkowski. I’ve interviewed Lulu a couple of times for my work with Matouk (she designs a line of bedding for Matouk, and I co-write the Matouk blog). She is tons of fun, so I was psyched to buy a painting I love on the LuluDK website she launched last year with her products, prints, and original artwork.

The rug is new too. I ordered it from Wayfair thinking it might work in the boys’ room, but it seemed too earthy. Luckily it looks perfect in the master bedroom; the watery color imbues a calmness. It’s a rough wool dhurrie, so I have to use a yoga mat when I stretch out before bed (itchy!), but it covers a lot of the room without being overpowering.

Thanks to the folks at Rug Pad USA, the rug feels quite cushy, as it sits atop 3/8-inch thick felt pad. A co-founder offered to send me a rug pad when he saw my recent post on rugs. Rug Pad USA, which launched a couple of years ago, manufactures higher end, eco-friendly rug pads that are made in the USA. I went with the Eco-Fiber Felt Pad. It’s made from 100 percent recycled felt materials and is resistant to mold, moisture, and mildew. It’s thick and doesn’t shed or smell, and the rug stays put. (The cheap rug pad I bought somewhere else had to be banished outdoors until the toxic odor was gone.) I’m thinking eco-fiber rug pads are the way to go. Now I need one for Flokati rug I just purchased for the living room.

I think that’s about everything. The rug and the matelasse bedding from BeddingStyle.com are the centerpieces., but let me know if you have any questions (or suggestions for that matter, as it’s still a work in progress). Yes, we travel with the cat. He sits in his carrier under the seat in front of me. No, he doesn’t meow.

S W A T C H I N G

S H O P P I N G

1 Blue-Green Sea Painting by Lulu DK.

2 Samtid Floor Reading Lamp, $39.99 at Ikea.

3 Simple White King Bed Frame, $399 at West Elm.

4 Jaipur Maroc Geometric Area Rug $951.50 at Wayfair.

5 Vera Wang Matelasse Coverlet & Shams, $249.99 & $79.99 at BeddingStyle.

6 Slice Wall Mounted Storage Shelf, $149 at CB2.

7 Lack Side Table, $9.99 at Ikea.

Scheming: Setting Up My Home Bar

I’ve been saying that I want to set up a home bar for my husband forever. Last month, I updated my post 50 Bar Carts, Serving Carts & Trolleys for inspiration. (Of course, we can’t actually have a cart on wheels in our house or our son would be taking it for a ride all around the condo.)

Unsurprisingly, I haven’t had a chance to move forward on this. (So many gift guides to write, so little time.) But then I got a message from folks at Absolut, offering to send me the new Limited Edition Andy Warhol Absolut Vodka bottle, a lacquer tray, and an Amex gift card so I could style a festive holiday bar. As you can imagine, I told them to send it all right over! Motivation? Done.

The bottle, which is fun, colorful, and sure to be celebrated hostess gift to bring to holiday parties (though I’ll be keeping mine on my newly styled bar tray), is a new creation based on Andy Warhol’s depiction of Absolut’s iconic bottle that he painted back in 1986. This year, Absolut transformed that artwork into a three-dimensional bottle, using the tagline “Make the Holidays Pop” as the inspiration behind the collaborative campaign.

Since I don’t have an unused corner for a full-on bar, a bar tray is the perfect small space home bar solution. While I’m not sure the new tray is styled to perfection yet, I did pull together some must-have bar accoutrements—copper shaker, stainless steel strainer, wine glasses, martini glasses—plus the Absolut Warhol bottle, gin, and Twenty Boat Spiced Rum from Truro Vineyards on the Cape. To prettify, I added a stalk of bamboo, green button mums, mandarin oranges in a Jonathan Adler dish, and a silver dreidel, set beneath my new swimming pool photograph from Gallery. (Scroll down for all the shopping links.)

Create a bar in a cleared out section of a bookshelf, on a lacquered tray atop a console table, a tray table, an armoire, etc. If I did, you can too. Of course, I admit, sipping that Absolut Warhol helped get me in the mood.

Bar tray styled & photographed by StyleCarrot

S T Y L I N G M Y B A R T R A Y

S H O P P I N G
1 Splash by Joy Mckinney Framed Print, $370 at UGallery.

2 Aalto Vase by Iittala, $155 at Horne.

3 Orb Copper Shaker, $24.95 at Crate & Barrel.

4 Twenty Boat Spiced Rum, $44.99 at Truro Vineyards.

5 Absolut Vodka Bottle by Andy Warhol.

6 Preston Martini Glass by Libbey, $18.85/four at Amazon.

7 Oak Mug Coasters by Sagaform, $24.95/six at Burke Decor.

8 Stainless Steel Cocktail Strainer, $9.95 at Sur La Table.

9 High Gloss Swoon Tray, $29.995 at CB2.

10 Copper Plum Tongs by Tom Dixon, $50 at A+R.

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Scheming: Perfect Turquoise Table Lamps

I’m not sure if you remember, but a couple of years ago I decorated my friend Meredith’s apartment in New York. I’m not a designer, but Meredith and Daniel somehow trusted me to put together the rooms in their beautiful condo in a high rise building on the Upper East Side. Meredith and I had a great time choosing wallpaper and furniture that summer, and we did it all remotely, me on the Cape and her in New York and Connecticut.

Although I posted some mock up designs, I don’t think I ever revealed the finished rooms. Here is the post with the inspiration and plan for the master bedroom: Scheming: Meredith & Daniel’s Master Bedroom, and below, a detail photo of the finished room, picturing the upholstered headboard with nailhead detailing against that the fabulous arc-patterned wallpaper, and glass-topped white nightstand with cerulean blue glazed ceramic table lamp by Robert Abbey.

The bedroom had been on my mind after yesterday’s post about the current lighting trend of using low hanging pendant lights by the bedside in place of table lamps. I know I said I prefer a sconce, but I certainly recognize the decorative value of a beautiful table lamp, especially in a classic bedside vignette such as this one. I particularly like this table lamp by Robert Abbey for its simple, slightly tapered silhouette, subtle detailing, crisp color, and plain white lampshade. Plus, it’s available in many colors.

Today, I’ve teamed up with Boston-based online furnishings behemoth Wayfair to offer you an exclusive promo code for 15 percent off any lamp featured on Wayfair. (You get a discount and I get a $100 gift certificate). Promo code WFLAMPS15 is valid today through Monday (Nov. 6 to Nov. 10, 2104). One more time: StyleCarrot readers get 15 percent off all lamps with promo code WFLAMPS15.

Have a look at Meredith’s bedroom (I realize the table isn’t styled, but still I think it looks pretty good), check out the half dozen turquoise table lamps I chose (including Meredith’s Robert Abbey Isis lamp), and then shop for your own table lamps at Wayfair with the 15% off table lamp promo code WFLAMPS15.

Meredith’s master bedroom in NYC, designed by StyleCarrot.

T U R Q U O I S E T A B L E L A M P S

S H O P P I N G

1 Isis Table Lamp by Robert Abbey, $200.20

2 Duncombe Park Table Lamp by Stein World, $230.98

3 Capri Table Lamp by Jonathan Adler, $298.10

4 Holmby Table Lamp by Couture, Inc., $258.75

5 Josie Table Lamp by Aspire, $160.66

6 Jayne Three Sphere Table Lamp by Safavieh, $161.34

E X C L U S I V E O F F E R for S T Y L E C A R R O T R E A D E R S

Get 15% off all lamps at Wayfair today (11-06-14) through Monday(11-10-14) with promo code WFLAMPS15. Shop lamps here.

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Scheming: Patterned Rugs for the Living Room in Florida

As you know, I’ve been fixing up our condo in Florida. Now that the walls are white, the cork flooring is installed, and the furniture is in place, it’s time to start thinking about rugs. Colorful patterned rugs.

Wayfair provided me with the perfect incentive, a $100 gift certificate for myself and an exclusive promo code for you. The promo code (RUGLUV33) is valid from today through Monday, 7/31/14 — 8/4/14. StyleCarrot readers get 15 percent off all area rugs with promo code RUGLUV33.

I’m hoping to find a rug (or two) for Florida. I’ve created living room schemes with seven different rug options, all pulled from Wayfair. Working off the artwork and pillows, I’ve chosen pink, orange, and coral colored patterned rugs. I’d love to hear your input. Comments please. (And, if you find any rugs for yourself, feel free to ask me to have a look.)

Here’s the new cork floor in the living room. Plus Oakley, our cat.
(See Tuesday’s post for more cork floors.)

Safavieh Moroccan Rug

I love the naturalistic, mountain design as well as the colors. It’s inspired by the classic Beni Ourain rugs woven by nomadic tribes in Morocco’s Atlas mountain region, but doesn’t feel too of-the-moment thanks to its white and pink palette. It’s a top choice. Plus, my 12-year old son, and more importantly, my husband, are ok with it.

It’s a knotted piece that’s 80 percent viscose and 20 percent cotton, which gives me some pause. Anybody have experience with viscose rugs in terms of durability and feel?

Pricing: 6×9 $1,208.84; 8×10 $1,765.35; 9×12 $2,435.80

Safavieh Tiny Diamond Rug

I chose this for it’s coral color and small scale, subtle pattern. (I’m kind of over large scale, bold geometrics.) It’s listed as being part of a bath mat collection, though comes is full room sizes. It’s cotton, from India, and looks wonderfully soft.

Pricing: 5×8 $205.12; 8×10 $430.50

Surya Bombay Floral Rug

This ivory rug with its bold hot pink bloom could be really fun. Almost like having another pillow and/or artwork on the floor. It’s a tufted rug in 100 percent, hand-spun New Zealand wool and there are plenty of sizes to choose from.

My husband probably isn’t all that keen on it, (it IS quite the explosion of pink), so I’m going to put the aqua version in rotation as a choice for the bedroom.

Pricing: 5×8 $712.20; 8×11 $1,566.60; 9×13 $2,293.80

Jaipur Rugs Maroc Tribal Rug

I was planning to avoid the been-there, done-that ikats, but this particular design appeals to me for its simple, blurred-edge pattern and soft coral color scheme. It’s a flat-woven wool rug from India, which means its reversible, durable, and really well priced.

Pricing: 5×8 $322; 8×10 $644; 9×12 $956

Capel Fortress Trellis Rug

A more geometric take on a Moroccan style Beni Ourain rug. This one handmade in India from knotted 100 percent wool. I like the subtle color palette, which, along with the orderly pattern, works well with the colorful artwork and accessories. Top contender for sure, and again, my son and husband like it too.

Pricing: 7×9 $1347.75; 8×11 $1797.75

nuLOOM Moderna Morderna Ombre Rug

This 100 percent tufted wool from India is probably too pink for the rest of the family, but I love ombré. I especially like the dot string pattern that runs across half of it. Another problem: it’s only available in a tiny size.

Pricing: 3×5 $124

Capel Cococozy Twirl Rug + Surya Frontier Ikat Rug

I know, I know, I said I was over geometric and global prints. I totally am, but couldn’t resist layering these bold designs. The larger twirl pattern rug is made with knotted 100 percent New Zealand semi-worsted wool with an Indo-Tibetan weave, and the ikat is a woven flat weave wool rug from India.

It’s probably better to have the flat woven on the bottom, but I’m not really going with this scheme, as fun as it is.

Twirl pricing: 5×8 $1,797.75; 7×9 $2,922.75; 8×11 $3,822.75
Ikat pricing: 3 1/2×5 $202.20; 5×8 $345; 8×11 $760.20

LR Resources Natural Fiber Rug

Wayfair has a pretty varied assortment of natural jute and sisal rugs too. This one is a bit on the red side, but I really like the pattern. The price points on the jute and sisal rugs are quite good, but I think we want to be cozier in the living room. However, there’s an interesting jagged chevron jute rug that resembles deep teal ocean waves that I’m considering for the boys’ room.

Pricing: 7’9″x9’9″ $340; 9’2″x12’6″ $570

E X C L U S I V E O F F E R for S T Y L E C A R R O T R E A D E R S

Get 15% offall area rugs at Wayfair today through Monday with promo code RUGLUV33. Shop area rugs here.

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Scheming: Boys’ Bedroom in Florida

What do you think of unfinished/unpainted furniture? I’ve pretty much always hated it. But when we were faced with furnishing the condo in Florida on a tight budget, I found myself buying several pieces from Ikea’s Tarva line. Namely, a pair of twin Tarva bed frames and Tarva chests to put beside each.

In my defense, my plan was (and still is) to do the condo in glossy whites and light woods. (White + wood inspiration photos here and white + wood shopping guide here.) So far so good. I’ve been able to stick to the white and wood scheme in terms of furnishings.

I had planned on having a contractor put in a plywood floor (plywood wall and floor inspiration here), but after several false starts, a neighbor referred me to Steve Gee at Tiffany’s Flooring, who (re)sold me on a cork floor instead. The new cork floor is amazing. Sneak peek coming Tuesday. Today, I’m trying to decide what to do in the boys’ room. So, back to the unfinished wood beds and chests. The bed frames are staying as is, that is, unfinished.

I am playing around with the idea of painting part of the little chests that are beside each bed as night stands. I don’t want to paint the drawer fronts—that seems really dated (or too DIY “see what you can do with a coat of paint”). But what about painting the top and sides? Or just the legs (or are we done with dipped)?

I realize this scheme looks a bit too plucked right from the Ikea catalog, but I’ll remedy that. I have promised them a rug, but that’s a whole other post.

B O Y S B E D R O O M i n F L O R I D A

Ikea furniture, cork flooring, and Etsy artwork in the boys’ room.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE CHESTS?
Leave both chests unfinished?
Paint one white, leave the other?
Paint the tops of the chests white?
Paint the tops & sides white?
Dip the legs in white paint ?

Inspiration rooms with unfinished elements.

Dutch houseboat on Airbnb

Children’s furniture by Bedzrus

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