department of the interior: home decor

I've always wanted to do a chinoiserie room with bamboo lattice-print wallpaper and glass-topped tables on brass legs and pots of ferns. Believe me when I say I am so jel.

Currently killing a baby maidenhair fern in my bathroom because it gets no light whatsoever.

do people who do interior decorating as their job get a little kick every time they think about rooms they decorated? like their essence is all over the room?

i can't imagine having someone spray their own essence all over my rooms, the thought is kind of horrifying!

I don't know, but I doubt it? Since they have to decorate for their clients?

I see what you did with the phrasing there

If ilx's own decorates-for-a-living I DIED had his way all rooms would be empty boxes with one chair and really bright lights so

My new business card:

mh
Interior Designer

"I will spray my essence all over your rooms"

But you know they throw in secret little things they like, right? I mean, like little things the clients didn't think of? Maybe if they're good at what they do they hide their essence.
I've never met one! Didn't know there was one on ilx!

I like minimal, clean spaces because my natural tendency is to put junk everywhere and having complex colors and patterns just camouflages my bad tendencies

I'm getting v v excited about set-dressing my downstairs courtyard/backyard for a party in May because if I can't decorate any more inside why not outside?

So far for seating I'm buying 5x8' unbleached drop cloths, my favorite things ever, and will use them to cover a ledge and pile with pillows.

But you know they throw in secret little things they like, right? I mean, like little things the clients didn't think of?

I...think clients hire decorators for the express purpose of thinking of things the clients didn't? Because they don't want to/know how?

does anyone have a recommendation for a really small computer desk that is available online?

http://www.cb2.com/helix-white-oak-70-wall-mounted-desk/s194118

something like this? i know ikea used to have wall-mounted things too

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00250249/

i bought a small computer desk from ikea, it was appallingly flimsy. i bought a great big desk from ikea and it was awesome.

that wallmount looks like the shit though!

I...think clients hire decorators for the express purpose of thinking of things the clients didn't? Because they don't want to/know how?
i'm not a dummy, i know why people hire decorators. or maybe i don't, as i said i've never met or had an encounter with one!

the belated realization that 1/2 of my new apartment is only accessible through two doors of less than standard width

this definitely complicates things

fuuuuck

Lechera: I mean I suspect ppl who hire "decorators" aren't thinking about someone's creative essence at all like you are? I have another suspicion which is that becoming most kinds of "decorators" is mostly about adopting the most boring and produced styles that read as whatever at that moment in consumer culture but that's a whole other thing.

as in, consultants from Ethan Allen

i have a friend who is an antiques dealer & interior decorator and i honestly don't understand how it works, like -- his 'decorating' seems to consist of... selling antiques to clients?

maybe that's a bit intentionally obtuse of me, but i honestly don't know that he has any design clients other than himself, in his home and in the various showrooms / storefronts he's occupied

elms, what do you have to get through those doors? Is it the bedroom, and does your bedroom furniture not fit??

the narrow doors lead to the living room & bedroom -- i think the bedroom furniture will fit ok but we have a pull-out couch that's definitely will not go

i mean

that definitely will not go

it's a nice enough couch but we'll probably have to sell it

the move is almost complete, only a few loose ends left. the bathroom is going to be the first room to be painted, so the question is: what wall color will complement a cool mid-grey toilet, bath, & tile and (ugh) maroon accents? it's light grey now, which is acceptable I guess, but drab.

a very pale powder pink might work in theory but i don't think that's gonna be put into practice.

We haven't even put one single thing in the new place yet! Not one item.
Happy moving day/ May Day!! Oh man.

good luck & godspeed! happy may day!

exciting times!!

yeah elmo I was wondering abt pink but ugh so hard to pull off without looking twee/old lady/gross

oh happy moving day elmo and LL. SO exciting.

elmo the maroon is killing me. Wth goes with maroon?@?? Yeah, maybe like a silver wash with some aging effect?

Orrrrrr something with a crackle in it and a brick-red underneath?

In other news I've decided to make my own furniture. I'm no woodworker (yet) but furniture in the US is so insane overpriced I decided why not try? I've found some beginner plans online and they really do look quite simple. You only need 4 tools - a drill (got it), circular saw or jigsaw (got 'em), orbital sander (i think I've got it), countersink drill bit (got to get em).

My first project will be this a King Sized platform bed which will cost $75-$100 to for all materials:

http://blog.thedesignconfide.netdna-cdn.com/sites/default/files/Vintage%20Group.png

If I pull that off I will try to build this twin loft bed for my girl Beatle. This one will cost around $150 for materials:

http://blog.thedesignconfide.netdna-cdn.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/big/loft2550_0.jpg

so excited!

tooltime w00t!

io, i have no idea. i think a fresh coat of paint will do a lot for the room. maybe a grey with a reddish undertone? i honestly do. not. know.

also the formica vanity top is ALSO maroon and horribly discolored, i suspect from bleach-based cleaning products.

oh fuck is that the poltergeist phone hiding under the loft bed???

castlemania phone!

Oh lord the vanity might just have to go.

yeah the vanity is a challenge, for sure. it's a trade-off for having a hardwood bathroom big enough to host a yoga class

when you strike it rich you should convert the whole room into a giant walk-in shower

girl i am LIVING for that tile shower, you have no idea

Aaaaaaand we're in! Breakfast in the sunroom iirc.

kudos!

Congrats, LL!

Thanks guys. Currently arranging bedroom closet and waiting for new mattress, my first new one ever! Unfortch I can't find the number of the place I bought it from or the receipt and I'm paranoid I bought it from a phony storefront that stole my cash and fled to Serbia or sthg. guy who worked there kept calling me " the little woman" so clearly these fears are justified.

I can't post pics now, but it should be known that I'm now the proud owner of a small dress-up closet that contains my collection of dress-up dresses from various eras, my square dance dress, my wedding dress, my mom's old dresses, among other things, all in one little irregularly shaped closet. So happy. Dream come true. Also the bed is here.

so got a few samples for the paint in the bathroom and i think we're going for a warm grey, i would describe it as like the color of wet porcelain clay (the name of the color is "smoked oyster" haha gross i hate oysters)

i'm worried that it will look REALLY PINK when it's on the whole room -- it contrasts the cool grey tiles, also the maroon trim really pulls out the red tones. even so, it'll be better than matching the color of the toilet.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/70/70b434fa-2b0b-4423-9df8-a08e256c42a1_300.jpg