We're waiting on the hood which is due to arrive and be installed any day, as well as the pendant light fixtures for over the island. Once those happen, the kitchen will be completely finished! I'm excited to show them both to you as well as the other little things that are coming together gradually. In the meantime, I'm thinking about furnishings. The house is a blank canvas right now, so it's been fun to think about all of the possibilities!
I would like to tackle the nook off of the kitchen first, as I expect this will be my preferred spot for reading, watching movies, hanging out with friends, etc. It's small and cozy, so it won't need much!
A sectional sofa will fit along the wall and under the window.
Here are two sofa options I'm considering. Either one will need to be customized to fit the space. We sell this fabulous made-in-USA line in the shop and online here. Extremely well made and at a great price point! Please email me directly with inquires.
I like the look of this sofa - modern, yet it looks really comfy and deep.
This one is more traditional. I would change the cushions so the sofa part has only one upper and one lower. I like the higher arms and side cushions too.
Thoughts?
Here are the fabrics - indigo linen for the sofa and the floral and striped for throw pillows.
I'm intrigued by small spaces and how the scale of a room impacts the way we feel while in it.
Here a few small spaces that inspire me.
For more small space inspiration, click hereto go to my Pinterest board.
Enjoy the extra day off tomorrow - wherever you are...
Well hi... My great intentions to get this to you a few days ago, were met with even greater and more time sensitive priorities. So, here we are again on Sunday! How was your week? Last night was my son's Prom. Very sweet :-) As one of three girls, it's a whole new world seeing things through the eyes of a boy. While there was no opportunity to offer help in the areas of attire, make-up or hair, I was able to give some last minute chivalry reminders as well as my own two cents on the subject - it matters! Remember to open the door, offer an arm when walking down stairs (or anytime!) and a jacket when it gets chilly. I promised I would not embarrass him by posting photos, but trust me, those two were adorable.
Moving day is next Sunday!!! I feel pretty good - not too stressed. Moving in with about half of what we moved out helps!
Once the cabinets were installed by Martin and crew, I was able to get a feel for knobs and pulls. The first stop was to Hundley Hardware in San Francisco. They have hundreds of styles, as well as other house related hardware like mailbox slots, weathervanes, towel bars, etc.
For all of the drawers in the kitchen, pantry and laundry room (below), I decided on these barrel pulls in oil rubbed bronze (above). For the cabinets in the same rooms, I selected the matching mushroom knobs.
For my dresser (below), I like these (above). I actually ordered something different, but think I will return them and get these.
For the bathroom vanities, I found these, but they were waaay out of the budget at $100/ea.
I ended up buying something I saw online. Once they arrive and get installed, I'll show you. Some others that I considered...
As I mentioned, Hundley sells everything you can imagine. It can be overwhelming if you don't go with a good idea what you are looking for. Here are a few things that caught my eye for client projects and/or future reference.
I love this wrought iron door hardware.
I'm thinking of these for a custom dresser in high gloss lacquer.
It was raining...
Love her.
All the hardware will be put on this week - in fact, Martin himself is coming back down to personally do it! There were a few drawer fronts that needed to be changed, so instead of shipping them, he decided to drive them down!
Hi, how was your week? Mine was fine. At least the weather was exceptional! Thus the thoughts of summer (see below) and what it will bring. For a quick fix, I think I'll head to the beach tomorrow - rain or shine. The Alameda antique fair is on Sunday. I'm thinking of going, but will see how the weekend shapes up.
I can't remember a season where one color has dominated every category as much as the color mint has right now. Are you with me on this?
Benjamin Moore 2039-60
It's everywhere from clothes to home decor and everything in between. The epitome of summer. Like it's been in the sun too long and has become a faded version of a bolder something it once was. I love colors that have that bleached-by-the-sun-ness. It looks great against tan skin too.
I did a little online spring shopping this week and was tempted by all the mint clothing options out there. Restraint is key, as a little mint goes a loooong way! These jeans from Shopbop called my name.
I love this outdoor light! It makes me think of the shingled Cape Cod's on Martha's Vineyard.
Some even have shutters to match.
I didn't realize my nostalgia for this color until I started writing this post. I'm now wondering if the summers of my childhood might have been where it started. When we first moved to California, I bought this bike and come to think of it, need to ride it more often.
I was in NYC last week attending the NYIGF. The trade show takes place twice per year - in August and January. There are literally miles of aisles to walk through with wholesalers selling just about everything you can imagine from plastic gadgets that are one stop away from a garage sale near you, to the finest luxury home furnishings. It can be overwhelming if you don't narrow your focus and spread it out over several days. Even then it's overwhelming!
For the past four years I've been going to the winter show with a brief visit to Northern Virginia first to visit relatives.
Coming from California, I always hope it snows. This year Mother Nature didn't disappoint...
The blurry photo was taken from my grandparent's house in McLean.
It seems every year the houses in their neighborhood get bigger and bigger. My grandparents have lived in the same house for my entire life. Until recently, the architecture has mostly been Colonial or Georgian Colonial. These days, the original columned homes are being torn down, and replaced with a range of architectural styles.
This stone house is so magnificent. I wish I was able to get closer to show you the level of detail.
I took the train from DC to NYC on Saturday afternoon. Even though the time of day and destination didn't match, Gladys Knight's "Midnight Train To Georgia" was playing in my head. And on my iPod... If you're in the right frame of mind, it can make you cry.
I digress. On to the show. I had a mission this time - accessories!
We had these pillows in the lavender and gray colorway at the shop and they sold out almost immediately. The one above would be spectacular on a brown sofa.
These embroidered Peruvian tapestries can be customized in any color and size. They make me excited for summer.
I'm thinking about carrying these lamps in the shop. They're so universal - boy's bedrooms, family rooms, offices, etc.
This wallpaper line has caught my eye for the past several years. I don't use wallpaper much, but got thinking they be great to line the back of book shelves or in a powder room.
These stunning tin chandeliers were one of my favorite new finds. They come in a range of patinas or painted.
I thought these wood and metal frames were fun and have a great beach house feel.
On my last day in New York, I decided not to go back to the gift show, and instead hit the streets and absorb all I could of my favorite city before my flight home.
Loved this restaurant's forward thinking optimism. It was 20 degrees outside.
Without a destination or anyone to compromise with, I was free to roam wherever I wanted. As it turned out, I wanted to go to Barney's. Long time readers know, I am by no means a shopper and given a choice I would much rather have clothes (super cute, well fitting clothes!) just appear in my closet. That said, there is no place comparable to Barney's NYC to spot what's on the forefront in the fashion world.
I discovered this new-to-me line.
What would you wear this with? I'm picturing white jeans + ballet flats.
Cotton knit at the top and arms and crisp cotton in the body. Navy and white stripes are timeless and always look chic. Very Jean-Paul Gaultier. What to pair this with? Faded boyfriend jeans rolled with No. 6 clogs perhaps.
The skirt on this dress is army green although it looks black in the photo. I bet it's cuter on than on the hanger. Especially with great sandals.
Speaking of shoes...
After leaving Barney's I had about an hour left before I needed to get back to get my stuff and head to the airport. Since I was nearby and never go, I just decided why not...
No, I did not ride in this, although had I not been alone...
I had another photo from inside the park, but I think I accidentally deleted it. Needless to say, it was a good, productive trip.
Anything you would like to know more about from this post? Email your questions to info@serenaarmstronginteriors.com.
Awhile ago I posted about a project I was working on for clients who wanted to completely renovate their kitchen as well as redecorate the attached family room space. The client's style preference is contemporary with a little 'glam'. I enjoyed the challenge of stepping outside my personal aesthetic and tapping into what they really wanted.
Here are photos of the kitchen 'before'.
Here are the kitchen 'afters'.
The island is painted in Benjamin Moore's Fusion.
In the family room, the biggest task was figuring out what to do with the fireplace surround, since it's the focal point. It goes up to the pitched ceiling and needed some dimension. The client did not want a rustic look, so no stone or reclaimed wood. Ultimately, the rug inspired a similar geometric pattern that was applied with 1" x 1" trim to the sheetrock.
Here are the family room 'before's'.
The raised geometric pattern being applied to the fireplace wall.
The colors for the furnishings were gray and violet. Some paint options we were considering...
We had the windows enlarged and framed all windows in both the family room and kitchen in a simple trim detail. That made a huge difference!
Here are the family room 'afters'.
The Parson's tables (one on each side of fireplace) are from Bungalow 5 and are lacquered grasscloth in white. The x-benches are from Ballard Design, with fabric we provided. They turned out great didn't they? So easy to work with them, I was really happy with the customer service. I had an actual name who knew the status of the order at all times. Would highly recommend them.
A couple of months ago I was interviewed for Luxe magazine - Pacific Northwest edition, asking me for my favorite places in Seattle. Here's the article along with a hilarious cartoon of me!
Recently I completed a small, sweet project I've been meaning to show you. I met my client when she came into the shop a few months ago. She and her husband have three young children and just bought their first home which overlooks the water in Belvedere, CA . She likes the farmhouse style, but wanted to weave in a coastal vibe since the home has water views from almost every room.
before's
The scope of the project was to furnish the living room and solve what to do with the off-center fireplace wall.
after's
We wanted to make the shiny black granite disappear and at the same time make the fireplace and tv not feel so off-center.
The wall color is Restoration Hardware's Charcoal. The beam is an old, reclaimed piece that my wood working guru had buried in a pile behind his shop. It was sanded and sealed to perfection (just luck that it ended up being a close match to the coffee table).
Here are more photos...
Before
The home doesn't have a mud room or coat closet. With three kids, things were piling up around the front door. As a temporary fix, the homeonwner used a coat rack for hanging items, but there was no place for shoes and other miscellaneous outerwear.
I had a custom bench made based on the size of three vintage-style wire baskets my client purchased at the shop. One for each child.
Hooks mounted on wood planks replaced the coat rack.
Below is the other side of the entry.
before
after
The homeowner found this great industrial piece (I forget where, but Carrie if you are reading this maybe you can put the source in the comments?) We thought this trio of mirrors (sold individually) makes a much more interesting vignette than just one.
More photos...
The living room was a blank canvas. It's the room you see first upon walking into the house. We started with the striped wool dhurrie rug and pulled the colors from there.
A new sofa from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams replaced the old one (very similar, but new one is less modern), a Belgian style coffee table and a few new accessories finished off the space.
The chairs were purchased previously, but the home owner was not fond of the contemporary lines, so we added vintage grain sack pillows and matching throws to soften the modern style.
We're still filling in a few blanks, like this corner...
Everything is new in this space. We're considering different chair options that can serve double duty for extra living room seating for parties, and we'll move the zinc accessoires to a new spot.
I hope you like the tour of this coastal farmhouse!
Well hello stranger... I'm working from home this week. I decided a mental health break from the office was in order. I'm still technically working FOR SURE (hello clients that read my blog!), but I needed to buzz around town so much this week, that I decided to work from home in between errands and appointments. I must say, it's been nice to wear sweats (cute sweats mind you!) and fuzzy socks, a pot of tea at the ready.
With summer drawing to a close, but fall not quite here, the 'theme' of this list of things I'm digging is reflective of this time in between.
First, they had me at the name. Then they had me again at the logo. Ever since I discovered this Australian based company this summer I've been mildly OBSESSED. I have thought about these headboards many times and when/where/for whom I can use them. I find them so incredibly nostalgic of summer homes of my youth.
Since I haven't found a place for them yet, I've decided that I must use them myself...someday...whenever I get a Stinson beach house. Two of these will go in the 'girls' bedroom.
If you're not already familiar, Janus et Cie is a high-end outdoor furniture company. Their lines are on the contemporary side, but they also carry some classic pieces that will appeal to the traditionalists. I recently discovered they have an online outlet that offers 70% off!
I love the settee below. It was originally $3,757 and is now only $1,350!
I would love to add a shed or out building to our property. Whether it's a potting shed, artist studio, office or just a destination, there is just something about being able to escape to your own little cocoon. This company makes shed kits in a few sizes and offers packages for the intended purpose - guest house, gardening, etc.
Finding just the right lamp can be difficult. It's an accessory that is both practical and decorative and often is one of the last pieces to be added to a room. Recently I needed a pop of purple in a gray family room. I was thrilled to find this new line of custom lamps that only take two weeks to make! They are on the pricey side ($900-$1,000/ea), so I didn't use them for this client (otherwise I would show you!), but I bookmarked it for future reference. (I realize this is one doesn't fit in with the 'theme', but the jewel tones they offer made me think fall. Plus, I wanted to share it anyway and it's my blog:-).
Mottega offers a choice of glass or ceramic bodies in many shapes, several shade options, and choice of material for base and finial.
Weekends Away
It's been a little cooler here in California lately, so I'm finding myself getting in the fall spirit and daydreaming about being here...
I've been sooo excited to tell you all about this, and now the time has come!!!
A few months ago I was contacted by a person I had never met about a new business she and her husband (and a host of others) were creating. She described it as a marketplace for all things vintage - cars, jewelry, clothing, homes (yes homes!) and of course, home furnishings. They were selecting "Style Makers" who each had a certain look and style, to showcase their wares under individual storefronts on the website. At first, I didn't think it sounded like the right fit - I pictured a giant virtual flea market - or worse - a garage sale! After a few phone meetings, and emails I soon realized that was not the case. Far from it. Second Shout Out was created to for the hip consumer who has an appreciation for the finer things that have timeless beauty and permanence.
The site just went live, but the official launch is not until mid-September.
Please hop over to spend some time and peruse all the wonderful treasures on Second Shout Out and let me know what you think!
I am thrilled to share with you, my lovely readers, FarmHouseUrban Home Store products are now available online! This has been a long time coming, so I'm very excited to finally share it with all of you. Every piece is chosen because it reflects the FarmHouseUrban lifestyle. My only rule of thumb when selecting an item for the store or website is that it be something I would personally love to have in my own home.
We actually 'soft' launched a couple of weeks ago, but were waiting to announce our debut with other big news. That will come a bit later, so here we are! I hope you like it!!
We will be adding new products often, so make sure to check back and/or 'like' us on Facebook, where we will be posting each new item before it's online! In addition, I'll highlight pieces here and there on the blog and will have a pin board of all our products on Pinterest. We're going big with tabletop for fall - lots of fresh and fun ideas coming your way!
Thank you all for reading and supporting FarmHouseUrban!!!
It's been a whirlwind around here this past week! Take a look...
Saturday - Margaret and I attended the motherlode of estate sales. Here are just a few of the treasures we scored...
It turns out the house belongs to George Lucas and the occupant was his personal Assistant for the past 30 years. The most incredible part was that he wrote Star Wars on a legal pad in one of the upstairs rooms! Goosebumps, I tell you. I look forward to sharing more soon.
Sunday - Father's Day
Monday - Met with reps to see new products for the store and clients. New smaller items - tabletop, accessories and hostess gifts coming!
Placed orders for a new client's 'FarmHouseUrban" living room.
Beachy Striped Wool Dhurrie
Simple Slipcovered sofa
Awesome Coffee Table
Tuesday - Went to a former client's home to start working on a new project. Great to be working with her again and her gorgeous home.
In the early evening, I headed up to St. Helena to visit girlfriend Cristine. Tuesday's is her Bocce Ball night, so I met her at the Bocce Ball park. They take Bocce very seriously in wine country.
Afterwards, we went to the new restaurant French Blue, designed and owned by Howard Backen (the architect whose work I have admired for.like.ever.)
Wednesday - Margaret and I worked on the online store. Fine tuning the look + feel, getting all the product images uploaded, the descriptions written, making sure measurements and pricing is accurate takes a loooong time.
Still tweaking the logo...
In the afternoon, I made a stop to my woodworker's shop to check on the prototype for a new piece for the FarmHouseUrban Home Collection. Here is a sneak peek at the FarmHouseUrban dining table!
Thursday - Stopped in to check on the status of a kitchen and family room renovation I've been working on. It's been a really fun project and I can't wait to show you more photos when the space is complete.
What to do with a monolith of a fireplace when the client doesn't like stone or wood? Raised panels in a geometric design!
Deciding which shade of warm gray...
Friday - Made a quick trip to the city to my favorite discount fabric store to look for a tweedy woven for an ottoman. I didn't find anything, but did end up in the waaaay back intrigued by these retro (retro as in they've probably been here since the 60's, not new retro) Hawaiian prints. Perhaps it has something to do with watching "The Decendants" recently?
I'd love to make big pillows out of these for outdoors. They're not made of acrylic fabric, but at $8 per yard, even if they lasted one season it wouldn't be a huge loss. My sewing skills are a bit rusty (plus, hello, I have no time!), so I guess I'll have to pass.
Here's to a relaxing Sunday! Hope you have a chance to put your feet up today!
