Redesigning a Lamp!

A recent project of mine was to find an old lamp and redesign it! I took a trip to Goodwill in town and found a lamp with no shade for $6.38. What a deal! It was a hammered black metal. With luck it would hopefully still work! I took it home and plugged her in and she worked!

Next, I stopped at Hobby Lobby in Davenport, and decided I wanted to spray paint the black metal base silver and add some gold colored webbing spray paint on top of the silver. The silver spray paint was free to me, leftover from another project. The gold webbing spray paint was $5.99. It took 3 coats of silver spray paint and three coats of the gold webbing paint.

I made a quick trip to Home Depot and found a new 10" harp which cost $3.65. That too I spray painted silver.

I also had a new shade that was free to me left over from a broken lamp from our store, Feather Your Nest Interiors. Lastly, I added some fringe or BLING to the bottom of the shade. It cost $4.19.

So this NEW lamp cost me a TOTAL of $20.21 + Tax.

I really like how the lamp turned out!!! A great inexpensive gift idea for a friend or loved one. It took me 3 hours total to complete once I had all the supplies. Cheers and enjoy.

BEFORE PICTURE

AFTER PICTURE

HVAC and Carpet Cleaning Tips For Your Home

I just finished reading an article "Breathe Easier In Your Home" out of a local magazine called Women's Edition, October 2013 issue.  This article is all about finding and setting a time to clean your ducts and other system components along with your carpets twice a year.  It recommends once in the spring and once in the fall to have your carpets professionally cleaned to get rid of all the dirt, dust and mites that may be trapped in the fibers of your carpet.  The EPA doesn't offer any guidelines on how often you should have your ducts cleaned, but it should be done as needed. 

"When choosing a professional duct or carpet cleaning service, it is important to do your homework.  Look for industry designations such as CRI and the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA).  And, as with any professional service provider, be sure to ask for an estimate, but don't let price be your only consideration."

Other online sources for information are:

www.epa.gov
www.nadca.com
www.carpet-rug.org
www.iicrc.org

Below is a link from NADCA's website on Energy Savings in your home.  Take the time to view as it's important to keep your HVAC systems working properly.

http://youtu.be/hImvxVyZvQE

In California, a Midcentury House in the Redwoods

In The New York City Times article "In California, a Midcentury House in the Redwoods" I was introduced to the intriguing idea of living in a tree house. This article shows a couple, The Todd's, that purchased a home built in 1958 by Daniel J. Liebermann, an architect who had apprenticed with Frank Lloyd Wright, and he was just 28 when he designed it for himself and his wife. This small home is just 1,100 sq ft and was purchased in 2006 for $1,125,000 by the Todd's. Many updates were needed as the house was in need of repairs when purchased in 2006. The couple combined the three small bedrooms into one large master suite and bath. They also upgraded the house’s 19 skylights, kitchen and radianting heating system. New lighting was installed throughout the house; the wood rafters and the ceiling were wire-brushed and waxed; the concrete floors were restained and polished; and the exposed brick walls were coated with plaster to create a more modern look. All to the tune of $350 a sq ft. The end result is amazing as you can see in the following pictures.


http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/06/17/garden/20100617-location-slideshow.html

Decorating with Color!

Get Creative with Color: 10 Enviable (and Totally Attainable) Rooms.

This article from Good Housekeeping has great pictures of rooms done by designers to show how you can use color in rooms!

Don't be afraid of color. I think that color is what makes your house your home! Show us how much you love your home by expressing yourself! Be creative, be energetic, be inventive! Don't go for safe...

go BOLD!

These pictures are from www.goodhousekeeping.com.





Read more: Colorful Home Decor - How to Add Color to Your Room - Good Housekeeping
Follow us: @goodhousemag on Twitter | GOODHOUSEKEEPING on Facebook
Visit us at GoodHouseKeeping.com

High-Wire Act

I just read the article High-Wire Act by Dana Thomas from Elle Decor Magazine.  This article features the Parisian loft apartment of French Fashion Designer Yvan Mispelaere that was once a school for acrobats.  This loft is 1700 sq ft of luxury and a mixture of  vintage and modern time periods.  He has incorporated pieces and design inspiration anywhere from an Italian 1950s dining table to the guest room's custom-made cabinetry that was inspired by Giorgio de Chirico, a 1970s plaster speaker.   Below you will see the pictures taken from the loft and the great mix of time periods.

It goes without saying, that interior design in the 21st century,  has become an eclectic mix of decades of furniture and accessories that inspire and seduce the senses.

Read more: Yvan Mispelaere Design - Parisian Loft - ELLE DECOR
Follow us: @elledecor on Twitter | ELLEDECORmag on Facebook
Visit us at ELLEDECOR.com

Mispelaere designed the bedcover in the master bedroom, the floor is paved with custom-made painted wood tiles, and a two-way mirror on the back wall offers a view of the dining area below.

www.ELLEDECOR.com

 

The living room of fashion designer Yvan Mispelaere's Paris apartment, which he designed with architect Stéphane Ghestem, the sofas are by Zanotta, the 1970s light fixtures were found in Florence and costomized with brass accents, the Art Deco mirror screen came from a paris flea market, the brass-and-glass cocktail tables are vintage, and the marble sculpture by Venske & Spänle was purchased at the Hong Kong International Art Fair.

www.ELLEDECOR.com

The staircase is painted concrete, the glassware collection is vintage, and the brass chair is from the 1960s; Mispelaere designed both the Brancusi-inspired hand-carved stacked stools and the trompe l'oeil "tile" wood-and-cork inspiration board in the office beyond.

www.ELLEDECOR.com

The guest room's custom-made cabinetry was inspired by Giorgio de Chirico, a 1970s plaster speaker adds another Surrealist element, and the wall is painted in a blue by Dulux Valentine.

 

www.ELLEDECOR.com

The tilework in the master bath is a mix of standard white squares and Mispelaere's Peep Show tiles.

www.ELLEDECOR.com

The kitchen is hidden behind a black-walled, three-sided cube, and Ross Lovegrove Landscape chairs surround an Italian 1950s dining table expanded with Corian; the brass vases were made from unused World War I mortar shells.

www.ELLEDECOR.com

Article Review of "What's New In HPL."

I recently read the article "What's New in HPL" in the Surface and Panel Q3 2013 Magazine. This was a great review of the new innovative products that the different High Pressure Laminate companies are now making for commerical and some small residential applications.

Here are the different companies and what's new with them:

Arborite Ink at www.arborite.com/us has custom patterns from leading designers

Laminati at www.laminati-usa.com has come up with a laminate for architects and desginers that matches all indoor elemnets in order to save tiem and effort with specifying laminate.

Advanced Technology at www.advtechnology.com has two new NuMetal designs made of a thin metal surface and phenolic paper backing that are both for vertical and light duty horiztontal applications.

Abet Laminati at www.abetlaminati.com has Swarovski Elements and designs infused in their HPL.

Wilsonart at www.wilsonart.com has reshaped the entire supply chain for its paper source, which is 70% of its HPL Product line and is committed to sustainability.

Arpa HPL at www.arpaindustriale.com has a new innovative HPL line that inhibits growth of bacteria across the whole surface.

Greenlam at www.greenlam.com/us offers eco-friendly laminates from India. They use an array of innovative and super flexible veneers on kraft paper for their Veneer Laminate collection.

Lamitech at www.lamitech.com now offers Big Scale Granites in HPL. They are available in sheet size of 5x8, 5x12, and 4x8. All laminates are low VOC emissions and Greenguard certified.

Formica at www.formica.com/en-US was the original inventor of HPL 100 years ago. They have introduced a colorful and graphic Anniversary Collection. These patterns result in the fluidity of overlapping elements that repeat for 500 to 700 sheets, or approximately 1.3 miles.

Chemetal at www.ialaminates.com introduces 4 new HPL's that include textured and high gloss wood looks with exceptional design.

Article Review of "Tips on Lighting a Room Well"

I recently was reading my local newspaper the Muscatine Journal and I came across a great article on September 7 in the Home & Garden section titled "Tips on Lighting a Room Well."  This article was a great how to lesson for anyone looking to add more lighting to their home or a particular room.  It was sectioned out into advice in these catagories: Overhead and Eye-level , Go Retro, Forget Old Rules, Lighting as Art, and Better Bulbs.

Each section gave some great little tidbits of information that are useful in everyday applications.  Some of my favorite tips from the article are:

• Have overhead lights installed if your room has none
• Group different styles of lights in a romantic or whimsical setting
• Use chandeliers in other places than the dining room....like a bathroom
• Use the right type of bulb for the right room

I encourage you to look up this article online.  Here are a few lights and lamps and sconces that I find particularly great! 

A great use of wall sconces in a small powder room!

 

 

 

A unique lamp and overhead light for an eclectic living room.

 

 

This boys bedroom really has the surf and beachy feel with the orb light that cast shadows that look like sand dollars on the ceiling and walls.

 

 

These gold wall sconces really set the tone of the room as they are emphasized by the mirrored panels behind them.  Very dramatic effect for a small space.

 

 

 

Article Review of The Hush of Lush: Chicago Office Goes Spare

I recently went online to research current trends throughout the interior design world and started off my search at www.interiordesign.net .  I found many interesting articles, however, I've always had an infinity for city spaces, especially in high rise buildings.  I have been to many offices in many large cities throughout America over the last decade.  It seems that the trend of "less is more" has really been key in interior design throughout all venues of spaces in high rise buildings.  Even though the spaces have smaller amounts of furnishings and accessories, they are full of class and exquisiteness, with the specific design of each piece taken into consideration that is present.

This particular space is an investment firm, however, the look and design of this space is that of many offices I have been to, whether it was a design firm, lawyer's office or doctor's office in large metropolitan areas.  I found that most offices are choosing to use basic or neutral color palettes on walls and floors with pops of color in the artwork.  This is especially true in spaces that have views of a large city.  As you will see in this article, this particular office space has a great view of the Chicago skyline and river.  It boasts many expanses of glass walls that let the natural light and scenery into the space. 

I also particularly love the choice of seating used throughout the office.  If you have studied design and art and architecture, you will love the Charles and Ray Eames chairs and the bench in the reception area that reminiscent of Mies van der Rohe.  I truly enjoyed this short article and great office interior design!

Opportunity Buys

We have recently updated our website www.featheryournestinteriorsllc.com with an "Opportunity Buys" section.  Under this section you will find great deals going on at our store!  Shop quickly and often as this section will change as things sell.  Happy Shopping!  Alyshea

2013 Color Of The Year - Sherwin-Williams

This is a beautiful serene color perfect for any room!  Click the link below.



2013 Color Of The Year - Sherwin-Williams

Designs By Alyshea

Here are a few room interiors that I have most recently finished! 

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did designing them!

This is a nice sitting area in a church.  Upholstered furniture by Norwalk and table by Hooker.

 

Here is another seating area in the church.  A great gathering spot for meetings, functions or socials.

 

 

Love this living room!  Custom area rug along with Norwalk furniture and Hooker furniture.  Large mirror over sofa from Cyan.

The other side of the living room with a leather Smith Brothers recliner and custom cornice boards.  The cornice board fabric matches the barstool fabric in the adjoining kitchen below.  Notice the great terracotta colored walls in this open concept kitchen. 

Here is the master retreat!  Notice the two different colors of soft yellow used in this space.  The darker yellow is in the bay window seating area.  Soft blues and browns were used to accent this space.  Love seat by Norwalk and sliding top abaca bench by Uttermost.

Just off the master retreat is the master bath.  Notice the mini chandeliers hanging over the vanity.  Walls are painted a pale green with golden yellow accents to compliment the master retreat.  Every woman needs a little bit of glitz and glamour in her bathroom!

 



Nature's Cues

Many interior color palettes are given to us from nature.  The beauty of what grows naturally and surrounds us outside can be brought to the inside to inspire us even more. 

 

I love the perfect colors of flowers.  Over the last few weeks I have taken a few pictures of flowers in bloom.  The intensity of their colors and the pure beauty is right before you...just step outside.  I challenge you to find a flower that inspires you and bring that beauty inside in your interior design. 

 

If you have trouble envisioning this, I have also included some room interiors with the specific flowers I found in nature to help you get inspired.  If you're still unsure, call me and I'll help you coordinate "Nature's Cues" in your home.

Beautiful blue-violet hydrangea flowers blooming in my own front yard.



And here are two great snap shots of rooms with blue-violet color schemes.
www.interiorholic.com
 

 

 

 

Here is a bedroom in the beautiful purple hues of the petunia's from my front garden!

www.hoidaytimez.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

Combining two colors like red and orange gives any room a vibrant and modern feel!

www.denoxa.com



 

 

 

 

A serene green and white palette is always beautiful for any home whether you use modern or traditional furniture.

www.vilthouse.com

 



Designs By Alyshea at Feather Your Nest Interiors LLC in Muscatine, Iowa

Feather Your Nest Interiors LLC in Muscatine, Iowa Commercial One

Uniquely Your Style --- Ottomans

An ottoman or two is a great way to spice up any room in your home.  Used creatively, most ottomans come in an array of sizes, shapes, and materials to fit any budget.  Below are some very creative styles of ottomans that give living rooms, bedrooms, offices, bathrooms, kitchens and dens that creative designer style.

From: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/query/unique-ottoman

These cute orange cubes can add the touch of color needed to the room, but also be pulled over into the dining area for a little extra seating.

 

 These truly unique “Stone” ottomans can be place at random throughout any space in your home.

 

 These round cylinder ottomans are used as extra seating for the smaller living room when side chairs cannot fit and seating for many people is a must!  Choosing a fun, vibrate fabric helps to design the space.  And notice the great round throw pillow on the sofa to match!

 This ottoman is the ultimate in class and style.  It’s large, oversized scale is perfect for entertaining!  It can be used for seating and with a large serving tray, as pictured, can be very functional for the city life! 

And here are just a few of the styles, some similar to the above pictures that you can get from Feather Your Nest Interiors LLC.  Visit our website www.featheryournestinteriorsllc.com and click on Norwalk Furniture to customize your ottomans!