Accent Walls, Yay or Nay?

Typically I am a Nay when it comes to accent walls, it always looks odd to me to have this one wall jumping out at you. The contrast is too much for me. If you’re going to do it, then do it damn it! However, I am intrigued by all these new murals we are seeing on the internet and in wallpaper books. I recently did a re-design for a woman’s office that sells Mary Kay. She asked for something girly but comfortable for clients to visit and be able to try products, she also wanted a small POP of Mary Kay pink. Not being too familiar with Mary Kay, I immediately thought of the blush pink cars I’ve periodically seen around town. This is not entirely true any more, Mary Kay has moved right along with the times and they have added a new, BOLD, beautiful pink to their marketing. Here is the plan I came up with…

The budget was tight on this one, $1000. but she already had a desk, bookshelf and table that she wanted to use. Target seemed to be the perfect match, budget friendly and local. Oh, did I mention she was also on a very tight time schedule so the internet was pretty much out. We painted the entire office the pale blush color and her inventory closet the new MK bold pink. This incredible mural is going up on the wall opposite of the doorway and will make for a dramatic entrance. From Target I found these stools as well as the chairs and lamps to add some color and punched it all up with some black/white and teal desk accessories from Staples. Topped it off with a new antique brass light fixture and a sofa table in marble and brass. We pulled it all off and came in just a hair under budget!

The Fruits of Our Labors

Now the fun begins! Demo and construction are done so now we get to see it all come together. Every day when I go to the site there is more finished and it is all so very exciting. The glass tile in the master shower is on and the niche, witch is this great hand painted cement tile, is up. Grouting is being done this weekend so by Monday things should really be coming together. It is always a good idea to have all of the parts to the project ordered and in before you even begin. Delays are always inevitable, and living in a construction zone is hair raising at best. If you have all of your tiles, sinks, faucets, etc. before the workers begin it will help to eliminate issues and move the process along, getting you back into your house and your regular life. Some things just cannot be avoided. Stone and glass cannot be templated until the cabinets/walls/tile are in. The Fabricators are 4 weeks out on the Granite and Marble. Looks like the client will be living with temporary counters for a month or so.

The Ordering has Begun...

This is always an exciting time in the design process for me, decisions have been made and we are ready to get started. I love the anticipation that comes with a new project and the excitement I see in my clients eyes, hopefully that excitement is still there at the end of the project. This remodel should take 6-8 weeks. While the scope sounds large, 2.5 bathrooms and all new flooring throughout the rest of the house, the bathrooms are small and we are not moving walls or much plumbing. The clients were looking for a soothing pallet, light and airy, almost spa like. They have been great to work with, and have kept an open mind to new suggestions. When we first started talking about this project they were very clear that they liked natural elements and were fairly certain they wanted dark stained floors and cabinets. While talking with them, I got the sense that they wanted dark stain because that was what they knew and what they already had in some furniture. Since we were taking everything out and will eventually remodel the kitchen, we were not married to any color pallet. I took a chance and showed them this beautiful greige wood floor, they fell in love and the rest of the color pallet started from that point. Another chance I took was the cement tile, and I am so glad I did. As soon as she saw the tile, she was hooked, husband took a little longer to warm to the idea but once he did, as he put it, “I was really dreading this whole process, but now that I have seen the choices you have made…I’m really excited”

Demo starts next week!