Wallpaper is back! Yes that is what I said!

Wallpapers are back and they are better than ever. These photos are from a favorite collection of mine. I think the fresh colors and textures are fabulous and so inspiring in today's homes. Many of my clients seek a unique finish, one that reflects colors that make them happy, yet with an air of sophistication. Don't you think these are right on the mark?

Shake off your preconceived notions of wallpaper. It can be retro, contemporary, or classic.

Modern lines of the chair with this fab faux leather finish on the walls. Warm, earthy, and textural. What else do you need for your foyer?

Of course, I love the drapery as a soft touch to this room. Note the juxtaposition of the french gilded chair and the whitewashed chest. You know this room was designed with a special someone, likely a lady, who likes the hunt for a unique antique piece as well as the glam that only classic damask can offer.

Aren't these chairs and the lamp just the touch for this corner? Love the silhouette of the paper and the chair backs. Shag carpet too, baby!

This Damask is printed on grasscloth. Any of you watch Top Design on Bravo? This technique, printed grasscloth was used by one of the finalists on a single wall, behind a headboard, in a guest room.

Candice Olson would be envious of this room. Not her design, but her influence of classic furniture lines artfully combined with simple, cool contemporary lines in the paper. Just plain fun really, but for us grown ups.

So if you are looking for a current touch for that special room or corner of your home, give wallpaper a second consideration. This is not your 80's paper. Wallpaper is back and better than ever.

It pays to buy a brand name Shutter

Not all shutters are created equal. At the time that the purchase decision is in play, it would seem that price is the most important factor. There are certainly many out in the market who will do the project for less, particularly right now.
Over time though, the differences will become apparent. Is the finish staying true, or is it yellowing? Are the doors hanging even after a few years of heat and humidity?
Are the Louvers staying in place and working in tandem as they should? Did you have this great option shown above to select that offers no louver bar to clutter up your view?

Most importantly, do you have a company standing behind the product? Can you get service one year, three years, or even ten years later?

I was walking my dog this morning and a neighbor asked me if I knew of anyone who could help her with some repairs to her shutters. Her home is about 12 years old and over time the wear and tear from her family has caused louvers to break in several shutters. She has some that the tilt bar is broken off, and the staples are loose. They are in need of some repair and she cannot find the guy who sold them to her when she moved in.

The answer is no, I don't, as much as I'd like to. The dealer that she bought from years ago is long gone. She thought they'd be in the house only 2 years, so they bought price, not the warranty. Not all shutters are the same, and parts are not often interchangeable.

We represent Hunter Douglas shutters and have considered this carefully. Yes, they are more expensive than the average shutter. But they have a lifetime warranty from a company that has and will be in business to support their product. Have a problem? first , call us. We will make a service call and repair your shutters. If someday for some reason we are not here, there is a toll free 800 number that can be called and a dealer sent to the rescue. In other words, you have the peace of mind that you have quality assurance.

So if you are considering buying shutters, especially today, look beyond the bottom line. There is more to the product and the manufacturer than the day the shutters are installed. You may need help with a repair down the road, and it can be a simple phone call away.

Two Story Draperies..before and after

I always welcome the challenge of working with a remodeling job. The rewards of seeing the potential in a room and bringing it to life with some vision and effort are just fantastic. This was the case for my client who purchased this house that had not been decorated or updated since the mid 80's.

The situation here, aside from the decor, was that this room gets full sun in the afternoon and is also the gathering place for this family's 5 boys to watch football on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. No matter how awesome the big screen TV, the experience is lacking if you have glare interference.

So we designed draperies that draw closed over these french doors and lined them with a heavy room darkening fabric. The valances at the top cover the rods and raise the eye above the natural line at the top of the door frame. She sheers draping over the triangular windows soften the light by reducing glare without darkening the room.

The color scheme reflects my client's personality--she is a lady of style and loves color. As the only gal in the house, she has to choose her places of self expression and color in her decor is one of them!

So we reached a great solution with everyone's desires met. The glare is gone when the draperies are drawn, and Mom gets her splash of color and feminine touches with the valances and sheers.

Meeting our client's immediate needs as well as their decorating dreams is part of the pleasure and mission of our company. We would be honored to help you do the same.

Drapery Design Solution for Multiple Windows

As you look at this client's sunroom, you can see that the challenge in this project was to come up this a solution for a room with three different window styles. The long windows behind the sofa are actually french doors that are not used, the single window on the left of the room, and the single windows set high on either side of the entry into the breakfast area.

The walls of this room had been faux painted in tone on tone stripes and all the rugs and upholstery were to stay.

As with many of us today, these folks have opted to stay in their home and wanted to use what they have, just give it a fresh look.

So, with the assistance of computer generated and some hand produced drawings, we designed several options for this project, and this was the result. We used a deep latte colored damask for the panels and cornices and crafted the over swag in an elegant classic striped silk. The final touch was achieved by strapping the two fabrics together with the tassel tieback. All new elements work with the existing items in the room.

Notice that the shades under the cornices drape into the glass area that is visible into the breakfast. No detail is overlooked--we lined these shades with putty colored silk so they are pleasing to look at from either side.

The result--an elegant sunroom ready for fall entertaining. We worked with the client's furnishings and within her budget to give her a fresh updated look.

Are you looking for a pre-holiday update? We serve many happy clients in the North Fulton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Duluth, and metro Atlanta area. Please call for your complimentary in home consult to uncover the hidden potential in your home and furnishings! 770-521-9372

French Doors, Arched Openings, and a Great Solution

My client called me to help with her living room. Now that she had furnished it with exquisite Beacon Hill upholstery, these magnificent doors were the in need of attention. The challenge: how to treat them with the dignity that they deserved and maintain their functionality. The fabrics in the room were drop dead fabulous, and were in hues of warm buttery gold and tuscan terracotta.
The solution: A hand finished 3" pole with ornate brackets across the wall to unify the group of doors, and classic, full draperies in gold damask. The empire swag and cascade complete the look and the color scheme. She was delighted and we agreed that this was the perfect solution for her and this room! Now she is ready for the holiday office party that her husband has planned.
Draperies are the perfect finishing touch, don't you agree?
The Before and After pictures say it all.

Shopping for Antiques with Eddie Ross

Jathian Kochar, yours truly, and Eddie Ross at the Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta.

Many of you know that I am a die hard antiques marketer. I will change the route of a trip in order to stop by a good antiques store. I love the fun of the hunt for treasures and unusual items which truly make a room personal. So much more interesting than new I think.
In June I had the pleasure of going to one of the south's best known markets, Scott's, with Eddie Ross of Bravo's Top Design. He offered a tour of Scott's where he guided us through looking for the potential in many of the categories of booths and vintage items.
One of our first stops was in the fabric department, which you all know is dear to my heart. Crewel fabrics are back in fashion and are emerging in all colors and designs. Here Eddie talks about this beautiful gold crewel on a cream linen. His recommendation was to use this fabric for pillows and accents in the room to allow for a flexible design scheme. I, of course, would make fabulous drapery panels on some hand finished poles and hardware. More is better, right?

Eddie stopped in a booth filled with vintage linens, including a table cloth like the one he is holding. Eddie is a very energetic and enthusiastic speaker, so taking great photos of him was a challenge at times. (Sorry Eddie--but I really like this vintage tablecloth!) He was so full of information and wanted to make sure that we got as much from our time together as possible.
There were rows of furniture like this chaise that would take on a completely new look with fresh upholstery. He pointed out the benefits of older frames--many are made of solid hardwood. Imagine this horrid old velvet gone and a beautiful new damask. OR how about a fun and fresh contemporary print for a reading area in your home office? This is when redecorating is adventuresome and so much fun! Not to mention green--we are keeping pieces out of the landfills! We have a ton of great upholstery fabrics in our resource room that would absolutely transform this tired piece into a show stopper.
We looked at old prints like this monogram out of an old book. Framing old items that were not originally intended for framing is fun and can create a very personal statement. There were several vendors there with huge selections of prints and old book pages.


This booth was filled with furniture and lighting straight off the boat from France. I traveled to France in June this year and saw first hand the trend of painted furniture in the gray and taupe hues like the chest in this picture. Crystal lighting on metal frames is still strong and creates a soft ambient light in a room.
Fashion is big in France too--don't you love these jeans she is wearing?

A great day--very inspiring. I returned home and rearranged several things. Nothing like a new perspective on what you have to ignite creative energy!

If you are looking for a new perspective, ask about our hourly design services to help you make the most of what you have. We will make suggestions for repurposing your furniture and updating your accessories. Use what you have and still get a refreshed look.

Raised Swags over Shutters and a Master Tub

Many times clients ask about creative ideas for enhancing plantation shutters in their windows. This savvy homeowner wanted the best of both worlds--a beautiful treatment and the ability to open the shutters. This gorgeous treatment was created over a cornice board that in mounted high enough to allow for the shutters to open. The rest of the beautiful silk swags drape into the window to soften the hard lines of the wood louvers.

This custom window treatment was created from embroidered silk that was fully lined and interlined for body and draping quality. Hand finished finials and silk tassel trim complete the look.
As a very southern friend of mine would say, this is "rich enough to eat with a spoon".

Custom window treatments created just for you and your windows with shop at home service. We have been serving the Atlanta, Alpharetta, Roswell communities for 18 years with style and in-home appointments.