Preparing for greatness

Lots is going on in my little corner of Tulsa!  I did lots with my kitchen makeover today - converted a stock cabinet to a wine bottle cabinet; made a custom wine glass holder to fit under another cabinet (are you sensing a theme here!?  I'm thirsty!).  I also did more priming on the final cabinet doors.  Tomorrow they will get their three coats of ivory enamel on one side (I like three coats of paint for a light color since it's a high use area!) and Friday (OMG it's WEDNESDAY!) they will get their other side painted.  I will install on Saturday and take some more pics for you guys (and my inlaws who are loving stopping by for progress reports).  It's been a long road - and there is still a few miles to go.  I will begin the backsplash tiling next week.  Here is my tile:
http://www.mosaictilestone.com/Imperial-Trellis-Tile-Crema-Marfil-Polished-Whi-p/89.htm

L.O.V.E.  When I ordered it, I spoke with the gal who designed it...so sweet! 

Also, I was preparing the photos I took of the Tulsa Designer Showcase spaces I will be remodeling and found several older projects I uploaded to my Flickr account...check 'em out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/interiorsbyjackiebrown/

Once I get the Designer Showcase photos processed and labeled...I will share them with you!  OMG the spaces are rough, but that just means they will shine brighter in the end. 

My wish for you all is to feel at home...more soon!  J-

Welcome to Tulsa

Hello Fellow Interior Design groupies! I have had this blog for quite some time but have not utilized it to it's fullest. That is all about to change! My family has recently moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma from Austin, Texas and there is much to talk about. I'm looking forward to using this site to show some how-to tips and keep you up to date on an exciting new venture!

First, I would like to update you on my current "job". We moved into a great 1917 Craftsman Bungalow

that needed some cosmetic updating and a bit of a kitchen overhaul. Being a designer, I feel in love with the "project house" the first time we viewed it and could instantly see it's potential inspite of it's pink laminate and wood countertops and light olive trim. This place oozes charm and I was eager to make it a super comfy, stylish place for my family and our three dogs.

The main project has been the kitchen. Here is what it was like when we moved in:

The area designated for the fridge, did not fit our large French door model and I felt a bit claustrophobic in that space. I also, was not interested in keeping all the tall vertical cabinetry and missing out on additional countertop space. So, I envisioned more countertops sunk into the wall for max space; a triangle work zone to give me more room to prep the meals; a natural stone countertop and undercount stainless steel sink for easy maintainance and an open, airy feeling. All those things have been acheived with the new layout and painted cabinetry. I have also added uppers and lowers for needed storage and it's all functioning beautifully. Here is it's current state:

There are still touch ups to do and the backsplash - a wow moment I will be sure to share next week! I'm also going to attempt a soft white venetian plaster technique - hope it looks as lucious as I'm imagining. All that will be noted here in the weeks to come.

So, my main client is myself and my husband. I'm still working some small projects for a few friends in the Austin area, but those will wrap up shortly. I never was much of one for sitting still. Which brings me to my next venture...

Annually, Tulsa Designer Showcase choses a home or space to remodel and decorate all to raise money for Tulsa public schools (and give us local designers another creative outlet!). I was lucky enough to have the wonderful people at my local Sherwin-Williams mention this to me when I was in their store buying more paint for my new digs. I sent an email and now I'm involved!  Here is the link to the Tulsa Designer Showcase:
http://www.tulsadesignershowcase.com/

Check out the home slated for remodel this year!  It's a do-sie!
It's going to be a wonderful, crazy ride...all of which I will document here for your amusement and comments. My hope is to expose a few of you to the process and get you to head to the event and make a donation (did I mention my daughter attends Tulsa public school???). I'm also hoping to show you a few tricks of the trade and get your advice/preferences on the design/look of the two spaces I have been given. So, let's start things off right away!

I'm working in the 3 year old boy's craft room and the mother's craft room. They are both separate spaces in the basement area that are connected by a pass-through window. The spaces now are rough, but I'm sure they will turn into wow's ... with your help! Please answer these two questions for me:

1. If you had a designated space for your child to do crafts, what would you want to see in that space - sky's the limit!
2. If you had a space for your lounging/crafting, what would you want to see in there?

I appreciate your time and will be posting pics of the rough space soon! Please be sure to "follow" this blog so you will be notified of all updates.

Thank you so much!
J-

Happily Ever After

I was referred to a new client and she had a unique problem.  She has a beautiful formal sitting room and had grand drapes made for the room a little over a year ago, but she was not happy with them.  Here is the original version:

They seem nice enough, right?  Oh, and she paid a pretty penny (several pretty pennies) for these drapes made from a beautiful striped silk.  So, what was the problem.  Well, to me, I didn't think they were doing anything special to highlight her feature wall.  She has two small windows flanking that large center window and you can't even see them let alone pull the curtains back to expose them.  Also, the upper arched window is lovely and it's just sitting all alone and not "pulled" into the space with the other decor.  Finally, this long wall of drapes is visually shorting this 12 foot tall room!  Not good.
She asked me to rework them and, if possible, make them seem as special as the pieces she has in this room.  She wanted to love these drapes but just didn't.
(OK, I know I shouldn't but I have to also say, this company - a big drapery company - first seemed promising and sketched her a design which the homeowner loved.  Then, after months of waiting, the drapes were delivered and were not like the sketch AND had been sewn inside out!  The company redid them but there was still a problem - no style AND they were too long to fit the space.  Finally, the homeowner had to pick them up and install them herself, folding down the top portion so they wouldn't drag on the floor!  Big disappointment all around!)

So, I sketched a design for her and knew I could make all this fabric feel better and work better for this space.  Here is my revised version:

I added two levels to the drapes for more interest and to highlight the 12 foot ceiling height.  Also, I added beaded trim to give the panels more depth and interest.  With the extra fabric I had left over, I made the homeowner two formal chair pillows with the same beaded trim (as seen in the right corner of the picture) and two square pillows with braided edge trim for her couch (as seen in the left corner of the picture).  There are lots of ways to make a window feature wall shine and I think this is a good example of how to do just that.  (And, yes I do install as well!)  Our final piece will be to add a faux-iron work piece to the center arched window (just waiting on delivery).  It's a whole room and it should feel like a cohesive design.  Now the homeowner is happy and I'm proud to show off this beautiful re-work.

Dining area Updo!

Here is a great example of what I see so often with my clients.  They have a space they use daily and have started with a few pieces...a rug, some artwork, furniture.  But the room still doesn't wow.  Here is the eat-in dining area before:

The homeowners had a great table, a great rug and some great art, but that great bay window was less than stunning.  They knew they needed drapes...for looks and to block the sun throughout the day. 

I started with the color scheme they already had started and just augmented it.  We poured over several samples and looked through lots of drapery styles.  It was totally a joint process as I strive to do with all my projects.  It's your home...you should love it.

Here is the final results.  Black roman shades with golden trim details and stunning damask drapes with coordinating trim.  Now the room WOWS!



Welcome 2011!

It's time for a fresh start!  Here is my new blog that I will update regularly so you can see the great changes I have been making in my clients' homes.  There is lots to be excited about this year!  Great trends that are easy to incorporate into any decor.  Also, spicy colors to keep our spirits up and our rooms intriguing.  Finally, there are some wonderfully designed fabrics to enliven our furniture and ease us into our day.  Let's get started!

For my new Blog Buddies, I am posting lots of images from last year's blog on Flickr so you can have lots of before and after images to peruse at your leisure.  I recommend looking at the images in their "sets" so you can see better before and afters.  
http://www.flickr.com/photos/interiorsbyjackiebrown/sets/

I would love to be friends!  You can find me on Facebook and see some of my newest projects:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Interiors-by-Jackie-Brown/369786229552

Feel free to drop me an email with a question or comment about any image you see on any of my "sites".
interiorsbyjbrown@hotmail.com.

My Website is in the works!  The website address is:
http://www.interiorsbyjackiebrown.com/
When it's up and running, I would welcome any feedback. 

I'm so grateful to all the wonderful clients I have been blessed to work with and my business just keeps growing!  Thank you, thank you, thank you so much! 
Now...on to what you really want...BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS!  Coming soon!