I was recently hired to help a client redo her dining room, and expansion to the front of her house. The house, built in the late 60's, was being expanded and to my great happiness the husband gave us carte blanche on the project..... But there was a catch. Damn their is always a catch! His only request, "please leave the paneling in the dining room." What!? Are you kidding me? Deep breaths; Ok no reason to panic. I will put together the design plan and he will see the light. He will come to his senses...he will come to the understanding that there is no need for PANELING! Right?
Nope.
Ok back to square one. Thinking, thinking,.... ok paint the paneling! Yes thats what we will do!
NOPE.
"we will stain the paneling and we will stain it darker!" he tells me.
Holy cow I am going to have premature, unnecessary heart palpitations. I'm not going to live through this experience, kill me now!
So I did what any good interior designer would do; freaked out, had unnecessary heart palpitations, and regurgitated my irritation to all my staff; but smiled to my client and said " of course it will be fabulous!" All in a days work!
Ha! Well to my surprise, the paneling was stained darker, but it wasn't worth all that anxiety. Despite my frustrations we worked around the walnut elephant in the room and I was quite pleased with the turn out. I still think it makes for a dark room. But I lightened the room with travertine floors, nixed the idea of an area rug, and put every light and bright thing I could in the room to brighten it. The best part of the project? The client not only gave us unlimited funds for the rest of the house, he is smiling from ear to ear because it is exactly what he wanted, and more! And that is why I do what I do!
Beautiful, clever job!
ReplyDeleteShawna's Study Abroad
Nice job. Thanks for stopping my blog.
ReplyDeleteoohhh! pretty!! i love the travertine! i'm dying to redo my floors right now....but i'm settling for re-painting the house!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful job! And you are so funny, I loved this post. and so great that you are doing the rest of the house too!
ReplyDeleteBy the way I hired Katie to do my header when I saw yours, I can hardly wait.
You did a great job considering you had to leave the paneling. It looks very warm and posh. Makes me wonder if there is something hidden behind it, why else would they keep it? LOL!
ReplyDelete"Walnut elephant" I love it!
ReplyDeleteThis turned out beautiful! Yes it is dark but it's cozy and rich too.
Love the floor, mirror propped up against the wall, the crystal bowl and use of lighting.
It must be satisfying to be given a challenge like this and produce gorgeous related. And have a happy customer!
I meant results(don't know where I got related from lol)
ReplyDeleteIt turned out very elegant--dark for my taste (I'm a gimme light kinda girl) but I can imagine lovely dinner parties taking place there. BTW, thanks for stopping by from SITS.
ReplyDeleteI've ripped the paneling out of every house I've ever lived in. He's very lucky you were on the project...good job! BTW, don't forget: Please come on over and check out my Silly Sunday Sweepstakes!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. The Dining Room looks wonderful. Have fun decorating the rest of the house - carte blanche. Sounds like a decorator's dream.
ReplyDeleteHaven't been here for some time,..and it looks good. I am so absolutely in love with your new look,... the header is deliciously gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteIs that a picture of the dining room? It looks great!
So, I'm not a fan of paneling on the walls, but you did a GREAT job working around it!! :) And good for you for listening to your client's wish list--you were rewarded. ;)
ReplyDeleteI would've freaked out too... but this turned out great! And what a cute blog!! Love the design!!
ReplyDelete:)
~Tabitha
I would love to do interior design! how fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad he ended up liking it ... and expanding your mission! But yikes. Things like this are why I could never do anything in your line of work -- forget the lack of interior designabilities!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and commenting on Jamaican Bun in the Oven. U R phunny! Love your blog and love your work...wish you were located in Dallas cause my home needs help!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and commenting on my party pics. I love your sight. This room really does look great! I wish that table was in my dining room.
ReplyDeleteIt did turn out beautifully! It can be so difficult when you are given something that you wouldn't choose to work with! Hopefully that was the only part of the house they were set on NOT changing and the rest of the house won't cause more palpitations!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments on my blog!
Beautiful!!! Thanks for stopping by my blog....do you think you stop by my dining room next, it is in serious need of your design expertise!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit :)
ReplyDeleteYou are one talented lady - who knew that 60s wood panelling could be made to look so good?
xo
You're so talented! I would have sat down and cried.
ReplyDelete