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Before and Aftah Living Room

By on February 4, 2015 in Antique, Living Room

Cohasset, MA was the perfect location for this fun project inspired by all the colors of the sea.  The homeowner rarely used this space, and who can blame them?  It certainly felt dated and tired.

Time for a DoOvah!

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How many people have those unused rooms in their homes?  Such a waste of space!  What good is a living room if you don’t live in it?  We wanted to create a space that felt beautiful and elegant but also warm and inviting.  I’m pretty sure we accomplished that.

Living Room

Photo: Michael J. Lee

See the painting above the mantle?  We love the wonderful story that the homeowner shared with us about growing up spending summers on that beach on the coast of Connecticut.  She bought the painting from a local artist  for her grandmother when she was young and loved that we reframed it and incorporated it as a focal point in her DoOvah.  One more family heirloom…the grandfather clock.

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OK, not all family heirlooms have to be real deal antiques.  This grandfather clock was handmade by the homeowners father…from a kit he bought in the back of a magazine.  Sometimes it is more about the memories than the price tag…right?

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Photo: Michael J. Lee

We had it refinished in the tones of driftwood.  See, we really did incorporate all the colors of the sea here!  So what do you think of the room now?  Does it feel like a room you’d like to LIVE in?  We certainly hope so!  Stay tuned for more Before & Aftah photos of #DoOvahProjectCohasset

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Back to Blogging Thanks to The Boston Globe

By on January 20, 2015 in Press

If you follow me on Instagram you’ll see lots of pictures of my day to day life, but also sneak peeks at some of the design projects I’m working on.  I’ve been sharing some pieces of the Cohasset project I started working on last February.

See HGTV viewers…great work isn’t done in a weekend!

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This was an interesting project that began with Gretchen Aubuchon collaborating with the super talented interior designer Mally Skok.  When Mally’s schedule conflicts and Gretchen’s new job with IMC  put a halt on the project, Gretchen called me to see if I could step in.  Given the fact that another project I had scheduled had just been put on hold the timing was perfect!  Also, I love collaborating.  Seriously, another blog post for another day, but there is so much amazing talent in our interior design community and so many wonderful women who support each other (yeah ladies…you know who you are!) I was thrilled with the opportunity to expand on the preliminary ideas of Mally and Gretchen.

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Which leads us down the road 11 months to my first publication!  Whoo Hoo!  I have to say I’ve been down this road before.  Promised something would be published somewhere and it gets cut for this reason or that (yes, another blog post for another day…geez I guess I shouldn’t have stopped blogging for so long) and yes, there may have been some tears shed from time to time, so this time I didn’t get super excited.  This time I waited.  This time I waited to see it in print.

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There she is…in print and online.  Boston Globe Style.  On a Holiday.  The day after a big win for the Pats. Can you see me smiling?  Shoot, maybe I should play it cool?  Like, yeah, whatevs, nbd!  But I can’t people!  I wear my heart on my sleeve and I’m excited!  Lots of fun things to come for MK Design in 2015.  I have 3 tween bedrooms, a dining room turned kids study, master bedroom, master bath, and a first floor “we’ve decided we want to live here forever” remodel on the drawing board now.  I’m also going to commit to blogging again.  I have lots of projects to share from the last few years and as I am finally having them photographed I’m happily sharing them with you.  Oh, and did I mention I just started a mentoring program with the insanely talented Tobi Fairley?  I’ll be heading back to the Design Blogger Conference in February, Los Angeles in June, and NYC in September.  Yeah…2015 is going to be pretty amazing I think.  Thanks Boston Globe for kick starting my January.  Stay tuned for all the before and after photos of  #DoOvahProjectCohassett

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Million Dollar Bedskirt

By on April 2, 2014 in Bedroom, Fabric

I’m working on an amazing project in Cohasset, and I absolutely love everything about it.  It’s a dream job really…great clients, 9 rooms, big ‘enough’ budget…but I was brought in after another (absolutely fabulous) designer had to step off the project.  Here’s the thing, when said designer had to step off, some of the fabric choices were already made, well, before the budget was set.  Which brings me to my dilemma…the Million Dollar Bed Skirt.  Well, it obviously isn’t made of gold and lined with diamonds, but when the fabric is over $300 a yard retail and you throw in a couple of euro shams for the bed as well, were talking over $2,700 for 2 pillows and a bed skirt.  A BED SKIRT!  (that is not going into Oprah’s bedroom)  Which brings me here today.  I’ve already ordered the 7 foot custom headboard in Osborne & Little  (see…totally not a small budget project).

The walls are going to be Benjamin Moore Icy Blue 2057-70.  The curtains are a creamy white linen  and the bedding is linen greige (ya know gray / beige).  So, what do you think of these options?

MDBSA #1

OK, Thom Filicia for Kravet… we all know how I feel about Thom Filicia.  It will certainly work with the creamy white & grege linen and love the blues.  It’s a little more masculine of the options, but the green isn’t perfect.  Although…sometimes in design perfect isn’t, well…perfect.  Moving on.

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Here is an option from Fabricut.  It certainly works, but it is too traditional?  Maybe.  But I like it.  It could work.

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This certainly has the blues and the greens and even brings in a pop of yellow.  And it’s a little more fun!

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Oooh…I love this one.  Seriously. Love.  But does my client like Ikat?  We’ll see!

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Did I mention that the adjoining master bath is being decorated in pink?  This option pulls in the pink, and although it doesn’t have any blue in it, I think it would work well with the cool icy blue.  (sorry I didn’t snap a pic with the paint color swatch)

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I am also falling hard for this option.  Is it because it’s been such a long winter in New England that the spring colors in option makes me so happy?   Or is it just awesome?  You be the judge.

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Speaking of spring…loving the colors of this fun floral linen!

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Or how about this large scale fun graphic print?  Here is a peek of what’s coming out of the top of the urn.

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And nothing says large scale fun graphic print quite like these asian fans!

So let me know what you think, and stay tuned to see what my client decides.

* MDBSA = Million Dollar Bed Skirt Alternative

 

 

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Master Bedroom DoOvah

By on February 28, 2014 in Bedroom, Home Goods

Sometimes long term clients become life long friends!  This weeks client was just that.  She hired me several years ago when she was building her dream home.  We’ve finished several rooms, but finishing the master bedroom hadn’t been a priority…well that was until we wound up spending serval hours up there having “girl talk” during a get together with a group of friends…but that’s another subject for an entirely different blog.  Anyhoo, back to THIS space.  The room has a very calm feeling and I wanted the art I brought into the space to reflect that serenity.

This oversized framed painting does just that.  My client told me she would have never even looked at those lamps…but don’t they look great in the space?

The seating area on the other side of the room was a big blank slate.  My client recently had family photos taken and I decided that this would be the perfect spot to load up with frames.  (She gets stuff done quick…so I’m sure the frames are already filled with the photos)  Oh, and be careful when hanging this type of a wall collage…accidents happen!  I also replaced the table with this marble topped beauty.  Finally, I carried that sunburst mirror theme to the wall above the table across from the seating area.

I love the transformation!  This whole project was completed with Home Goods finds (from Acton, Westford & Bedford) and breaks down like this:

Large Art $175.00 Clearance Price

Lamps $59.99 each

Large Sunburst Mirror $39.99

Silver Frames $12.99 each

Marble Top Table $69.00 Clearance Price

Pillows $24.99 each

Starburst Mirrors $29.99 set of 3

With just a few small changes, your space can be transformed!  Anyone heading to Home Goods this weekend?

 

 

 

 

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Roses Are Red

By on February 14, 2014 in Valentine’s Day

A couple of years ago I was hired to decorate a Valentine’s Day Soiree.  All blog guilt aside…I’m finally publishing and sharing a peek at the night with you!  Let’s start with the walkway, all twinkly lights of course. I lined the entire path with about 40 mason jar candles dressed up for the occasion.  A dozen long stem roses on a high top in the enteryway greeted the guests when they arrived (OK who am I kidding…the champagne on the high top REALLY greeted the guests…but the flowers were a nice touch!)The cabinet in the foyer was draped in red fabric and decorated with a candelabra and an old photo from my clients parents wedding night.  So Romantic! In the formal living room I used crystal candle sticks and bud vases  for a simple elegant design. I dressed the windows with roses and candles as well.  In the dining room, the chairs were adorned with tulle bows, a white table cloth with a silver sequined table runner, and several dozen roses.The sideboard with covered in red burlap, framed valentine subway art, a picture of the happy couple and sprinkled with “diamonds” that glistened through the night. I actually created the runner by placing three placemats together on the length of the table.  With the “disco ball” vases…so sparkly!  Remember when I posted this mantel idea?  Well, here is the rest of the room.  I pushed back the coffee table and added cushions to create some bench seating and make room for the dance floor!  Speaking of dancing…I also brought in a few high top tables for the party goers to rest their drinks on while there were showcasing their moves.  I’ve shown you this before, but it’s still one of my favorites, add a small framed mirror to glitz up your centerpieces.  We also pushed back the couches and added a few decorative pillows.  Oh, and candles…

because you can never have too many!  Don’t worry, my fire safety patrol friends, the ones on the sofa table were flameless.  So even if it’s just a simple bouquet of hot pink roses in a black vase, I hope you celebrate the love in your life today!  Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

 

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