Italian styles homes designs.

Italian styles homes designs.

A Stylish Starbucks

Greetings from Pittsburgh!
I've been doing some heavy traveling lately for work and Pittsburgh was one of my recent visits. As anyone who travels for business knows, you don't get to see much other than the view from your conference room and the hotel.

So imagine my delight when I found my way through the hotel lobby of the Omni William Penn and into this Starbucks.

Holy molding Batman! And check out those black Murano glass chandeliers.... and the bistro chairs...and marble topped bistro tables...

I would have loved to ditch my meeting to have spent my entire morning here. Damn these grown up responsibilities!

Newzealand homes designs exterior.

Newzealand homes designs exterior.

Cyprus Nicosia homes designs.

Cyprus nicosia homes designs.

So you want to hire a decorator

Many people think that working with a decorator is out of their reach financially  or that the results of the pairing would create a space that wasn't personal.  Neither of these beliefs are true if  homeowners  matche their  needs with the right decorator's skill set. 
 
Professional decorators usually hold a set of  basic beliefs about designing spaces that support  their interactions with clients.   For example I believe: 

everyone deserves a beautiful space ....

 
 Margaret Ryall
 
interesting and inviting interiors can exist without a high price tag;
 
 
Photography: Brian Ricks
 
a space should reflect the needs and interests of the owner;

 

 Margaret Ryall 

furniture arrangement makes or breaks a space;

Margaret Ryall

personal items are the best accessories;

Margaret Ryall

editing a space can transform it;


  

  Margaret Ryall
 
layering objects, colours and textures create interesting spaces;

Photography:  Brian Ricks

art completes an interior design;

 

Margaret Ryall

harmonizing is more interesting than over matching;

designing a room is the same as designing a painting; 

and most important of all .... 

listening is key to designing.

 As you can see these are broad beliefs that can be applied to most spaces. They do not dovetail into any particular look.   Everyone is different and their spaces should reflect  this individuality.  

My approach: 
I  compose spaces  in various ways, problem solve situations, use colour to harmonize or contrast; understand the various principles and elements of design and put them together to produce  interesting spaces.   I like to meet clients, find out about them as people, look at their spaces and what they own,  and then create a space  that is personal to them. The key to this process is listening and questioning.

 Do clients  have to love what I love?  NO! Are there projects that are easy for me?  Yes!  I love mid century modern styling and like to mix it with more contemporary pieces for a  clean edged  look with lots of neutrals, texture, splashes of colour and interesting lines to create quiet spaces.

 Can I create  traditional designs?  Yes!   How about eclectic?  Yes!  It's all about understanding the characteristics of these styles and working with the likes/dislikes of the homeowner.    

Is there a decorator in your future? 

Painted!

Chris and I spent the majority of the weekend painting spindles, stair risers, and trim in our hallway. I hope to never have to paint another spindle again in my life.

I'm thrilled to say that we finished, but sorry to say that I've run out of time and daylight to take pictures and write a decent post for today.

Dare I say that I'll have a reveal to share next week??? 

Studyrooms interior modern designs ideas.

Studyrooms interior modern designs ideas.

Cyprus homes property modern designs exterior views.

Cyprus homes property modern designs exterior views.

Modern homes interior designs.

Modern homes interior designs.

Canadian homes cottage designs.

Canadian homes cottage designs.

Study rooms designs ideas.

Study rooms designs ideas.

Refinishing the Stairs Part 2: (Or How I Fixed a Bad Stain Job)

Click here to read Part 1.

Lordy Lordy. If I said I was fearless at the start of this project when we started stripping the old finish from the stairs, I was certainly eating my words when I stained them.
I got scared. Real scared.
Everything started off smoothly. The oak banister took the dark Varathane "Kona" stain like a champ.

 But the stair treads? Not so much. They were a big blotchy disappointing mess.

You can actually see defeat in the slump of my shoulders as I persisted.

No, I didn't pretreat using a wood conditioner. The directions said I didn't have to. All I can figure in my research is that the kind of wood our stairs are made from is one that doesn't take stain well. This may also explain why they looked so bad to begin with.

I seriously didn't know what I was going to do to fix it. The last thing I wanted was to sand them again and start over. Thank god for the Internet, because that is where I learned about General Finishes gel stain. I stopped hyperventilating long enough to place the order. Then naturally, my mind went to worst case scenario land as I waited for it. (As in, we're probably going to have to replace the entire staircase...)

When it arrived, I cautiously tried again. The gel stain is thick, like chocolate pudding. It smelled pleasant.  I was hopeful. I used a white sock over a rubber glove on my right hand to wipe it directly on top of the bad stain job. Then I used a clean white rag in my left hand to wipe off the excess a few minutes later. I used a foam brush to get the stain in corners and around the spindles.

To my relief, IT WORKED! Top step, Varathane + General Finishes gel stain. Bottom step, Varathane only. My stairs only needed one coat of General Finishes to even out the finish.

In reading online reviews about General Finishes gel stain, we probably didn't even need to strip the wood first. Oh well, live and learn.

Three coats of poly later and the treads are done.

I really love how the dark treads look with the mahogany inlay of our floors downstairs.

Now someone is going to have to paint the spindles and risers.

I call "not it".