Wow! It's been a while!

Well, it's been ages since I've had time to post anything here. I have been working as a designer for the Thomasville ~ Drexel Heritage store in Murray, Utah and it's amazing how much time it takes to have a job and how little I have energy to do after being out of the house all day!

As of July 2nd, I decided to leave my full-time, commission-only job to work on my own. When I started this blog and decided to start my own business, I had no idea where life would take me and it's been a crazy ride for the past... nearly a year! (wow, time flies!)

So, armed with the knowledge I gained from working in a retail situation, I've begun a new chapter for Regeneration Interiors. I love the name "Regeneration" because it reminds me that there are always times when we need to "start again". So here I go!

I've got a few clients I'm working with, who decided to carry over with me from the store. I have always believed that Furniture Brands has the best quality furniture for the price, and I still do, so I will continue to work and sell through the store.

The biggest thing about being on my own is that, even though I'm still only getting paid when I sell, I'm not spending my time working for someone else. I have more control over the clients I work with, the jobs I do and my free time. So far, it's been more hours put in, but I can put them in whenever I choose... wow, freedom! Having said that... not that many people have walked in and asked for assistance, so that's a con.

One very exciting change to my new chapter is that I've now aligned myself with Furniture Brands Contract furnishings and I'm a "servicing dealer". That means that I can sell any of the Furniture Brands (Thomasville, Drexel-Heritage, Broyhill) to commercial clients. I'm so thankful for the contacts I have within Thomasville, after all of these years!

While I've done design in the past and have worked with clients on staging and re-design, I've never had been able to sell directly to the client, so this is quite a bit different, and I think I'm going to love it! I've contacted a few other furniture brands and also accessory lines and am setting up accounts everywhere I can in order to have the broadest selection for my clients... now if I just had some more clients!

In addition to this new pathway, I've been doing some research in building businesses and branding. My husband recently learned about Zappos.com and their brand story at a SHRM conference, so we decided to visit their headquarters and read a book written by their CEO Tony Hsieh. This probably seems like I'm getting way off track, but it will make sense, I promise. (I definitely recommend you check out their story and read "Delivering Happiness")

So what did that have to do with Regeneration Interiors, or me? Well, it made me think about who I am and who this company is and where are we headed. Since I don't have a great success story, YET!, I have to tell you who I plan to be and who I want to be, so here goes...

Most everyone who knows me and has read my blog for a while, understands my philosophy on design and decor, but you may not understand my philosophy on 1) customer service, 2) community responsibility and 3) charity.

The three sort of go hand-in-hand, but to clarify...

1) I believe that if I provide the best customer service I can, take care of my clients' needs and show them that their happiness is more important than the bottom line, then the money will come, because ultimately people want to know that they are the priority. (by the way, this is exactly what I told the folks at the store when I was interviewed!)

2) I believe that we as individuals have a responsibility to be active and responsible members in our community, the same goes for businesses and sometimes that means doing something good for the community, even when it doesn't make you any money. That being said, I'm now looking for a shelter charity to work with where I can take my talents and assets to help others. My dream would be to provide furniture for a needy family. (let me know if you know of a local group who might benefit from this sort of service.) I'm committing to doing (for now) two projects per year, not necessarily with the same organization.

3) Last, but not least is charity, and there are so many, but for personal reasons, we've decided that 3% of all sales will go to the American Cancer Society. We've had several family members who have been taken from us by this terrible disease, and we want to do everything we can to aid in research and to assist those who are currently suffering.

Now that you know where I am, and where I'm headed, I hope you will become a follower of my blog, call me if you need help with a design or decorating project, and pass my name along to anyone you know who might use my services. I hope to be back on track with my regular blogs and see and hear more about what you all have going on!

A "Diamond in the Rough"

My friend Derya and I found this great little consignment shop called "Chic & Unique" here in the SLC. We have been there quite a few times and have brought home some pretty good finds! I already posted a picture of my coffee table I got there for $50 and which I LOVE! but, probably the best one is a cabinet that I got there for just $200 and it looked rough!

I went in the store every week for over a month drooling over the cabinet, the price went from $425 down, down, every week and I kept waiting until I moved in my house because I had no place for it, and was so afraid it would be gone before I could get it! I don't really know why but it just begged me to take it home.

before

the front of the drop leaf

One lady in the shop told me that she intended to paint it and I was heartbroken, really worried they'd paint it before I could get it. I'd talked about it so much that my husband finally agreed to go look at it with me. He, too, liked it and thought it had potential. So he agreed I could buy it and we were finally moving into a house and I knew just the place for it!

this gray stuff was all over it

The drop-leaf door was locked when the consignment shop got it at an estate sale, and so they drilled it out to open it, what you see above is the "patch job" they did on the hole (the reason they thought it needed painting). The gray matter that was all over it looked like someone had spilled paint and then wiped it with a dirty rag and just smeared it down the face and side of the cabinet. You can see in the shelf how it was sort of hazy. It all wiped off with just water on a sponge!

I was sure the folks in the shop had tried to get it off and failed, but apparently they hadn't even attempted it, because it was very simple to get off. I was thrilled!

Inside the cabinet was an old light with huge bulbs and the wiring looked a little sketchy to me, so I bought a strip light with LED bulbs to replace it. I also had two glass shelves cut to replace the big wooden one which obviously was not original to the cabinet. I put it in the corner of my living room and filled it with my wine glasses and other barware and VOILA!

The "gray matter" washed right off!

I LOVE the outcome!

I love the way it turned out! It is a great storage piece, plus display!  This is just proof that you can find great things at great prices if you are willing to gamble on a diamond in the rough!

it's not perfect, but it stays open all the time anyway

Rules NOT To Be Broken

The more I do this job, the more I realize there are a few rules that should never be broken when designing your space!

1) Always pick your fabrics before you choose your paint color! There are only limited colors and patterns in fabrics, but paint can be made in any shade!

2) Always plan your space before purchasing the largest piece of furniture! You can always go back and buy that piece after you've measured your space, but you can't always take it back when it doesn't quite fit! AND... you have to think about how the other furnishings in your room will work with that 10 foot long sectional!

3) Always know what style you are before you purchase! If you purchase something because it looks great in the showroom and it's not at all the style you are or want to be, then you are stuck with a random piece, or changing the style of the whole room to accommodate that one object!

4) Always use scale and proportion in every piece you buy! There is nothing wrong with having a huge wall unit, or a large sofa, as long as everything in the room follows the same scale... but having one large piece and then lots of little pieces just looks odd.

5) Always decide on your budget for the room before you start AND stick to it! Most people think of a budget as the starting point, but it needs to be the ending point. If you have a budget of $5000 for the room, you can't pull it off if you spend $2500 on that gorgeous sofa and you don't have tables, other seating, window treatments, accessories, etc... Planning is key!

6) Always get the advice or collaboration of a professional when you just aren't sure what you want or where to start! Most furniture stores offer free design advice when you purchase your furniture through them. You don't have to take their advice and you don't have to purchase more just because they suggest it, but it is amazing how much better the space can look with just a few tips from a professional! And you don't lose creative control, sometimes it just helps to have someone to keep you on track!

7) Always complete the room before you purchase the "extras"! That means, when you are doing your space, do the finishes first, i.e. walls, flooring, lighting, draperies... If you purchase that great sofa and tables and beautiful lamps and art, but you still have the ugly light that you don't like, then the room isn't going to be "done". You can always purchase the accessories, art, throw pillows later on, get that light or put down that carpet, then you will feel better in the space.

8) Always buy big ticket items first, then get the accessories, you can also save a lot of money on those things because they don't have to be functional, and you can change them easily for a new look, so spending a lot of money on small things can be a waste!

I hope you haven't already started and made these mistakes! And, if you are getting ready to start a big project, or small one... I'd be happy to give some tips and pointers on how to make your designing go smoothly!

Enjoy!

a "quick" update

we have leased a wonderful house in the Upper Avenues of Salt Lake City and we are enjoying it so much. you can probably tell by this picture that the view is one of the best features of the house! 

I will post much more about the house and more photos, but I wanted you all to see the only room that is completely decorated and looks pretty darn good I think! 

I have had the sofa for a while, I got it from Thomasville, but the chairs are from Ikea and the table is from a consignment store (and I paid $50 for it!) I love the way it all comes together. 

as I said before, I wanted the room to be warm and inviting, but I didn't want it to compete with the view and I think it is all of those things! I do not plan to add window treatments, unless the sun gets so hot we can't be in there... it has already fried the plant you see there, I had to move it!

I will try to post more photos and ideas this week... there is just sooooo much going on!

p.s. Derya's house is looking great too, we both moved in to our new places the same day!

Fun Fun Days

My friend Derya and her husband Soner, have just bought an old home in downtown that was being restored and and they got to pick the final details! I'm so jealous because I'd love to be renovating a charming old home! Anyway, my jealousy is abated with the fact that I get to help her do her house and will get to sit back and enjoy it with her in the end! (the best part of being a designer!)

We have been shopping for lighting, cabinet knobs, window treatments and furniture! The house was built in the early 1900s and is an Arts and Crafts Bungalow, it's being restored very carefully because it's on the National Historical Registry. Derya's style is very eclectic and funky and this house is going to be AWESOME!

Derya on one of our shopping trips!

With all of the finishes and fixtures she  chose very carefully to fit the style and period of the home, but with the furnishings we are hitting all of the vintage shops and thrift stores and finding fun, wonderful pieces to make the house look like she does... fun, young, hip and did I say fun!?

(Sidenote) We found some wonderful chairs online and couldn't find a place to get them in the U.S.; then when we did find a place it was in Boston and the chair was $900, plus tax and shipping... a little out of budget for a single chair... and it's plastic! Let me introduce you all to "Pasha" chair by Pedrali... I think you'll love him as much as we do! Derya has discovered "chairgasm"!


Being from Turkey and loving an Eastern style, we tried to find things that went with the period and style of the house, and also brought in that Middle Eastern flair. We found hand painted knobs for the kitchen and paired them with oil rubbed bronze pulls. We found mercury glass, Moroccan styled pendant lights for the dining room and a table that was made from an old door from India! And interestingly enough... they all look right at home together and with the other more traditional details of a 100 year old house!

They move in to their house on Monday (same day Perry and I move to our new house) and then I'll share photos... for now, check out some of the things we found while shopping!  Then, once they're all settled in, I'll post photos of how it all turned out!

So, the title of this post is "Fun Fun Days", and that is what we've had shopping and selecting everything for the house, but those days are not over, we will have many more enjoying the spaces we had so much fun creating together!

We opted for a pair of these over the DR table

Great sofa, huh?!

Very similar table, no two are alike!

on lower cabinets and drawers

On upper cabinet doors! 

I love these chairs!

So, you all know that I love Mid-Century Modern and you know I love Ray and Charles Eames... but I'm suffering from such a strong infatuation with the "Shell Chair" that I see them everywhere and I even dream about them!

There are several cream colored ones at The Green Ant; the great shop across the block from my condo and I want them so badly I've even told Perry I'd not eat for a month to have them! (bonus to this scenario... I lose weight!)

Now, my friend Derya wonders why I'd pay so much for vintage, original ones, rather than purchase new ones, because they are still in production... it's the fiberglass! ...Eames chairs have been widely imitated, but originals are highly sought-after by collectors because they are considered breakthroughs in both design and technology...

from Apartment Therapy

from Apartment Therapy

from Apartment Therapy

And when I say I'm seeing them everywhere, it's not just in the vintage stores I visit... they seem to be in every blog I read, and every website I hit on... I found these shots on Apartment Therapy and I want to share them with you all! This article is actually about the coffee tables, but what room wouldn't be better with a great shell chair... (I'm sure you can determine which ones are the shell chairs in the shot, right?! hehe)

My "inspiration shot" from some can't-recall website (sorry)

If you are on my facebook, you know I've found an "inspiration shot" for my new living room... And you know that my color scheme is monochromatic in creams and whites, so just how perfect would these wonderful cream colored shell chairs with a chrome eiffel tower base be?! Well, I have a way of deciding the value of a purchase and that is this... "do I love it __(?)___  many dollars worth?" and the answer for this one is..... YES!!!!! 
so, on the new living room idea... I have a similar sofa to this one, but it has a little more gray undertones... in place of the two painted side chairs, I want to put the Eames shell chairs... the layout would be more like the photo above with the blue ones and my chairs would have that type of base... weigh in folks, let me know what you think! Seriously!

Found "treasures"

part of an old light fixture

OK, so I love when I find something unusual and it turns out to be something that I love! I was in the Habitat for Humanity ReStore last week and found this great frame from an old lighting fixture for just $3. The globe was broken so I just opted to take the ring and not the fixture part, but my idea was to make it a mirror frame. I had seen some little round mirrors at Tai Pan Trading in Sandy, UT, but when I went back to get the mirror I was sure would fit... it didn't!

I'm glad it didn't because I like it better for what I found while exploring... I like the idea of multi-functional items so I got a few different options. Now, the best idea we (Derya & I) had there was to take photos of each option in the store, then we could choose which one we like best!

a terra cotta pot - $16.99

A clear glass vase - $12.99

Clear candle plate - $.98

Dessert plate - $.97

I love the way it looks with the terra cotta pot, it makes a great base and elevates the pot just a bit! There are so many different pots, urns and vases that are somewhat rustic and the frame gives it an elegant feel.

The simple clear candle plate was so inexpensive, but with the frame... terrific! This could hold up to an eight inch candle or several candles clustered, where can you get a great candle holder for just four bucks? No where!

Next, for about the same price as the candle plate is the small dessert plate.. and how cute would this be with a cute little cake or cookies at a party? There were also some great domed covers that would add a lovely touch to this pairing. The best part is that it's not an old light fixture anymore, it's a great cake stand/dessert tray!

Now, my favorite and the one I have now sitting on my kitchen counter is the glass vase! I love the simple cylinder and the frame is just like icing on a cake! I have it now with candles in it, but I will fill it with Christmas ornaments, decorative orbs, vase fillers and a candle and, of course, flowers!

So, let's say this is not exactly your style? This would also be great painted white or off white and sanded off a bit on the edges for a great shabby chic look, or paint it black for a dramatic look in more contemporary settings.

This one is made of cast iron (antique I think), and it's very heavy, but newer lights are made of brushed nickel or other materials that might work with your decor... keep your eyes open and if you find another idea to do with old light fixture parts... please share! I'm excited and inspired and will definitely be looking for more old lights and making more cool accessories with them!