Readers Projects

I love to get e-mail and pictures of the decor projects from the readers of decor blogs. It's fun to see how everybody else manifests the healthy obsession of serial decorating.

Up first is Melissa Lewis, and old friend from the days when I first discovered kindred souls on the site Rate My Space. Though I don't post anything there anymore, the original RMS group formed the base of the readership of Visual Vamp nearly two years ago, and they continue to stay in touch.
I'll let Melissa tell us about her lovely rooms:

The Dining Room of Melissa Lewis designed for HGTV

Hi Valorie! I have been a fan of your blog for the longest time and just wanted to thank you so much for doing it. It is such a design inspiration to me! I have been a stay at home mom for 10 years and my daughter just started kindergarten, so I am trying to figure out what to do to get started in the design business. I have no formal background and am completely self taught but I have an absolute passion for design. I think doing displays in a store or maybe accessorizing homes is what I am best suited for. I don't think I could do a complete redesign job!! Wondering what you think is the best way to get experience.

The office designed by Melissa Lewis

I have been on Rate My Space and a couple of years ago I was honored to have you comment on one of my rooms! :) Then last year, I was lucky to be picked as one of the shoppers on HGTV's Endless Yard Sale 2008. My husband and I shopped together...I was the crazy girl running for the chandelier if you happened to watch it!! :) Anyway, I have attached a picture of my dining room that I redesigned for the show and wanted to get your opinion! I also am sending a pic of our home office...I think you commented on this one a while back! :) I know you are so busy and everyone probably tries to get advice from you!!! :) So, no worries if you can't answer back, just wanted you to know that your blog is fantastic and you are a huge inspiration to me! Kindest regards, Melissa Lewis

Another view of the office of Melissa Lewis

Melissa Lewis decorated her daughter's bedroom
with a the winning combo of vintage, flea market, and contemporary elements

Next up is my friend Peg DeFilippis. We met many years ago when I did the design work for her wedding. A client became a friend. Peg is one off those people gifted with natural skills. She's a great shopper, and can put togehter a room (or an outfit) that looks wonderful. I posted her New York apartment HERE and her East Hampton cottage HERE.
She is now embarking on another career (her background is in the financial world). Peg recently completed a course on staging from Haverhill, and is trying to land her first jobs. Staging has not caught on in New York, so Peg is a bit of a pioneer. Recently I asked her how her endeavor is going:

Peg writes: Staging is good. I completed my first official staging job in NYC a couple of weeks ago to rave reviews! I will attach a couple of before and after photos for you.

Peg DeFilippis stages a modern look for a vacant studio apartment in NYC

It was a crappy vacant studio and the broker wanted a very modern WOW look to get it to stand out from the rest of the gazillion apts on the market right now. I had it repainted and the windows washed but the owner wouldn’t pay for anything else so the broker is paying me monthly until it sells.

The crappy vacant studio apartment before Peg worked her magic

The after bedroom photo was taken before I added a mirrored side table and floor lamp on either side of the bed...the photo looks too dark without the extra lighting.


It seems in NYC the brokers are the ones who pay for staging right now as in most cases the homeowners can’t be persuaded to spend the money. The brokers however know it will get the place sold so they get the money back and then some with the sales commission.

The bathroom staged by Peg DeFilippis

What I want is to stage homes that are occupied. It is much more of a challenge. I have a broker friend who has two jobs for me coming up after the holidays. Both have the owners living in them so I am excited for that. I need to take my accreditation test next week so I can start marketing myself here and in the Hamptons. I am already passing my card out all over the place! Looking forward to visiting you at some point over the winter! Miss you! XO, Peg

Please send me photos of your projects! We all love to see what each other is doing. I think design bloggers and readers are very talented and the passion we have for decorating is fun to share with one another.

My e-mail is: mizvtheb@yahoo.com

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The House That eBay Built

There are certain blogs that are poetry.

That's how I feel about Deborah Peterson Milne's Dumbwit Tellher.
The postings are few and far between, but when one pops up, it is imaginative, heartfelt, and original. Every photo chosen is considered and special. It is not a cookie cutter blog.


Having said that, I want to share some photos of the home of Dumbwit Tellher. I asked Deborah to tell me something about the house she decorated.

The layered look is masterful in the living room

Deborah writes: "I'm not 100% sure what to say other than yes..the house is for sale.
We moved here just shy of four years ago from Seattle. We are now empty-nesters and selling the house means we can finally start living our dream, and that is moving to Scotland. Then as you know from reading my blog, we both lost our moms this year.

So..making a change is what we hope for. We just sold our motorcycles, next the cars, stuff will go in storage & we will be off to beautiful, cold, rainy Aberdeen.

Sound crazy...just maybe!! Life is short and I want no more regrets because that shopping bag is over-flowing!"

I spy a fab wheat sheaf coffee table - maybe Deb will sell the furniture too!

She also says: "Each item has a story and a history and very often a few coats of paint. I call our home the house that eBay built."

Love this bedroom - check out the side table lamps - very Emily Henderson!

I love the personal style of this home, and I think it is move-in ready for a young buyer, or a buyer young at heart. I feel a kindred spirit in Deborah. We share many of the same decor choices.

The dining room sideboard is delicious

After seeing so many Cote de Texas style Houston homes, this Houston house is unique and refreshing.

The wall color and painted panels are great

It's a good size home with several bedrooms and bathrooms, and wonderful yard with a pool.

Another view of the living room

Deborah sent me a photo of a guest bathroom after she read my post about fabric HERE

The orange Federal style mirror is genius

It turns out we both use the same source, and used the same fabric for a DIY project.

OMG! A bathroom with "wallpaper" collage

Deborah has done so many great projects in her home. She knows how to swing a paint brush!

I did collage walls in many a bathroom in NYC!
This shade is incredible

If you did not know that Deborah and her husband Graham are empty nesters you would think a Lonny/Rue/Domino young cutie pie blogerator did up this house. The decor is very young at heart, but filled with the wisdom of someone who has lived long enough to utilize and balance color and vintage eras.

This wallpaper is the best!

It's funny how we attach a certain age to certain decor. Like older folks use antiques and refined serious schemes, and younger people use flea market finds, fun, and color.

Her daughter did the CC painting! LOVE it!

When I first started posting photos of my home, many readers thought I was young. And I am very youthful at heart and in my mind's eye ha ha, though old in years with the wisdom to be confident.

Adorable laundry room

I see confidence in Deborah's choices. Love too. And great attitude. This is a woman who clearly makes delicious lemonade from tart lemons.

Deborah and I used this same fabric

You can read her own personal story about her home HERE. Many of you already have. But go read it again, and if you haven't discovered Dumbwit Tellher, add it to your blog list.

And we are both Jacked up! Go HERE to see why!

And if you are in the market for a house in Houston, get in touch with Deborah. Besides getting the fantastic decor, you will be getting a home infused with love and good vibrations that will enhance your new life in this house with those very same qualities. And make her an offer to buy the furniture too!

Love the wall treatment in the bar area

Please send me your house stories and photos. I love sharing and showing Readers Projects.

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Designing Kitchen Curtains

Little by little the Visual Vamp kitchen revamp progresses

I spy one upper cabinet door with chicken wire Alberto got done!

Come into my kitchen....AGAIN!

Revamp and renovations take a long time for a couple of reasons: Time and money. We are in the phase one portion, doing all the inexpensive DIY projects like painting and re-purposing things we already have. And since we have many other things to do, time plays a factor in our progress. The money portion will involve getting new counter tops and possibly base cabinets, a new sink and faucet, maybe a new microwave for over the stove to replace the old fan. Those things will come along as we have the money.

New curtains in the kitchen! Alert the media!

In the meantime we are already enjoying the new colors and the fresh coat of paint, and the accessories. The latest additions are the kitchen curtains!

The accent color is black
inspired by the color of the mantle
and the antique chairs with the original finish

I was inspired by a couple of things. First my friend Mitchell from Optimism and White Paint stopped by and gave me one of his brilliant predictions: Cafe curtains are coming back! After I mocked his doily granny ways, I started to think about it. Yes cafe curtains could be good, if reinterpreted in a modern way. Mitchell is a genius!

Whooooo helps you with your design decisions?
My list includes Michael Pelkey, Mitchell, Jack, Caroline,
Kellie & Maggie AND Alberto!
And of course all of the decor/design bloggers!

There are two windows in the kitchen, both oversize in the New Orleans way because of the high ceilings in most old homes. One of these windows would be perfect for a modern cafe curtain.

The first window you see when you come in the kitchen
It is in the breakfast area
I "inherited" the color of the arch way and stairs
I ran with it and chose the cabinet to reference them

The second window is in the breakfast area, and is visible to the dining room where there are silk drapes. Visually I wanted to keep these rooms connected, so I knew I would do drapes on this window. Silk was too formal, so my fabric choice is off white burlap. I like burlap for budget reasons, and for texture. It can be very Belgian when left unlined, and very elegant and practical when lined. I chose to line the burlap.

Burlap drapes in the breakfast area
The same return rod is used as in the dining room
Note the black accent of the clock

The new color choice for the kitchen is what is now being called Vamp Greige since I jumped on the gray band wagon and have been using this color not only for my home, but for customer projects too. The fireplace in the breakfast area is black, and I left it that way, and hence an accent color of black naturally occurs throughout.

You can see a "corridor of drapes" unified by neutral color

So when it came time to design the modern cafe curtain I was inspired by my friend Kellie HERE.

The gorgeous drapes in her front room used as an office are white with a black band along the edge. Her sister Maggie makes all of Kellie's drapes, so I asked Kellie if Maggie could do mine too.

Maggie made Kellie's gorgeous drapes HERE

Never let it fool you folks that it doesn't take a village for any design project. Designers never work alone. Ultimately it is your decision that you live and die by, but it is the foolish designer that doesn't welcome input from trusted colleagues during the process.

Modern cafe curtains made by Maggie Overton
Off white burlap is lined
Black linen banding and dressmaker button detail

Maggie gave me the option of rod pocket or rings. I tried the curtains first with the rod pocket. I use pieces of cut bamboo from a neighbor's yard for curtain rods.

Notice the button "tie back" on the top tier. This was an idea I had to allow light in, and Maggie ran with it. We considered lining the curtain with a fun print, or even all black, and in the end Maggie decided to keep it clean and simple letting the lining act as another texture.

The modern cafe curtain with bamboo rod and pole pockets

I like the pole pockets, but I wanted to try the curtains with the more traditional rings. There's something about cafe curtains and rings that just says France to me.

Old brass rods got a light coat of bronze spray paint

I had the rods and rings in my arsenal of stylist's equipment collected over the years, and just gave the rods a quick light spray paint of bronze.

I love love love my new kitchen curtains!
So French except for the banana trees ha ha

The black band is yet another black accent, playing off the other black accents in the room, and I think really unifies them visually in a very chic dressmaker way.

I opted for rings over pole pockets on the modern cafe curtains

The off white burlap is a great texture, and another neutral color that adds a tonal quality and depth. I could have gone greige in my fabric choice, but I wanted a little contrast.

The modern cafe curtains tailored with dressmaker details

Of course the rings are easier to use too, and they also play back to the rings on the pinch pleated drapes in the breakfast area.

Visual Vamp kitchen with the modern cafe curtain
Note how the black banding references other black accents

So there you have my Monday Mini Metamorphosis! Go on over to Susan's Between Naps On The Porch HERE to see what some other bloggers are doing on Mondays there.

Button detail on top tier of the cafe curtain
I am so honored that Maggie used vintage buttons
that belonged to her grandmother

If you would like Maggie Overby to make curtains, drapes, bedding, pillows - anything custom for your home, contact her HERE.

You can take your own measurements, and ship her the fabric, and magically you will get your beautiful finished project in the mail. Custom is not as cost prohibitive as you think, and it just adds that extra detail that all visual vamps appreciate.

PS I purchase most of my fabric for my projects from Fabric.com
They have excellent choices, the BEST prices, and friendly and very helpful customer service.

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Vamp Greige Is Not Dull

As many of you who read along know, I am a colorist, never shying away from using color in my rooms. Lately the color of choice is this magical combination of beige and gray, which of course equals Greige.

When another design maven who's writing a design book saw my dining room, he remarked that this was a neutral room that is not boring, how my choice of "Vamp Greige" shows how you can use neutrals as color. He remembered my red walls, but did not think the greige to be any less exciting.

I got a lovely e-mail from Maryanne the other day, and she thinks so too. She sent me some pictures of her dining room.

She writes" "We are redoing a lot of our house as we bought it a month ago and it is definitely not to our taste."

Maryanne's dining room - she moved in a month ago

Maryanne painted her dining room a color she calls aqua blue. She wanted to try something different, but admitted she really is "a Greige girl all the way." So two days later she repainted the dining room Greige.

Maryanne's dining room then, with blue walls

Maryanne shares: "And I must say, we have had tremendous luck with Craigslist. I have bought many items so far and I am thrilled with them - the antique table in the dining room was only $210, the small mirror was only $20, but best of all, all 6 dining chairs were only $80!! The bust and marble stand were a combined $100. There was a time when I would have paid much more for these items. Now, I am so delighted to source them through fleas and the internet."

Maryanne's dining room now - with Greige walls

Maryanne tells us: "Greige is definitely not dull. My husband said yuk when I told him I was repainting the walls greige but, of course, now he loves it."

Maryanne's dining room project is still a work in progress. But at the rate she works, I am sure that the whole house will be done in two weeks!

Maryanne is a great shopper!
She says: "I try to limit all my buys to Craigslist or fleas.
I already had the chandelier from my more fiscally careless days."

Some of you have asked me what the paint color is that I am using, the color I call "Vamp Greige".

It is a discontinued color by the Color Place brand, the house brand from Wal Mart. However they (or any paint store) can mix it for you. The color is Studio Beige.

I have it mixed in a Kilz paint base because I like to use Kilz in New Orleans which is prone to moisture and mildew. But the Color Place brand base paint is excellent as is.

I have the exact paint number and formula at home, and I will share it with you when I get home from New York.

In New York with blogger friends Kwana and Patricia

The best thing about this beautiful paint color and paint brand is that it is only $20. a gallon. Sherwin Williams makes the Color Place brand, and the contractors here love this paint for both the price and the quality.

And most importantly, thank you Maryanne for sharing your project with us!

I think she is doing a wonderful job, don't you?!

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Kellie and Marc

Today I have the great pleasure to bring you a very special reader's home. She has been coming to perch. in New Orleans for design ideas, and over the last couple of years has become very dear to us.

A wing chair now in Kellie's house next to an antique armoire
Fabric from perch. - Note the matching dog bed!

I met Kellie when I first started working at perch. I liked her right away, liked the choices she made in the shop. We struck up a friendship. Sometimes she brought her husband Marc with her, who is adorable.

The wing chair then - cute, but Kellie made it cuter!

Kellie loves to decorate, though she is not one aspiring to be a designer or a decorator. Her Mom has always done interesting serial home renovating and decorating, and Kellie can't remember a time some craft project was happening in her house.

Kellie is one of four girls. She was fortunate enough to grow up in a home where her mom was constantly redesigning, redecorating and rearranging. All four of the “girls” have the decorating bug, although they all have different styles.

Kellie says, "Maybe it’s genetic!?! When my mom was ready for a change, she went for it. One time mom decided she didn’t like the location of her kitchen. She called the plumber, electrician, painter, and carpenter and had them move her kitchen to an entirely different part of the house. The funny thing is…nobody flinched…not Dad, not my sisters. We were used to the constant projects and upgrades".

Bright green paint and a gas lantern are touches added by Kellie and Marc

The house is a new build in Greta, Louisiana, just on the other side of the Mississippi River from perch. It is adorable, and looks like it has been there for a hundred years.

Kellie and Marc purchased the house in August of 2004. Initially, Marc did not like the house at all and did not want to buy it. Admittedly, it wasn’t too spectacular. It needed some help but Kellie knew she could make the house a beautiful home. Also, she loved the neighborhood and loved the fact that they could walk to church, the post office, bank, coffee shop, florist, etc.

Kellie's design books

Kellie loves design books, and magazines, and blogs, and she is well versed in what's happening in the design world. She knows how to use trends, and make them her own long lasting classics.
Her style is decidedly feminine, what's she calls as girly.

Kellie tells us, "Marc’s and my home is in a constant state of change. In the six years we have been in the house we have added a sun room, added a fireplace, re-did the kitchen, painted each room a godzillion times, and added and subtracted furniture and art. The den has been four different colors. Thank god my husband’s patient!"

Basket of shoes by the side door

What inspires Kellie's decor choices? She tells us, "I am definitely feminine and girly—maybe from growing up in a house full of girls. I like soft pastel-ly colors and lots of whites. I always lean toward soft pinks and lavenders. My husband is pretty laid back about my girlie-ness and decorating and takes it all in stride. His only request was that we not have a pink bedroom. So I painted our bedroom a color called Lily Lavender! I try to have an eclectic assortment of furniture. I don’t want to be too matchy-matchy. My furniture ranges from mid-century to antique French to contemporary. And I love, love, love buying art!"

Marc is perfectly at ease with Kellie's choices, and loves how pretty she has made their home.

Kellie and Marc

Marc is in the military, and has been deployed overseas for a year. He is home for a small leave for a week or so, and Kellie is anxious to show him some of the changes she's made while he has been away.

Marc is a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army. He is an infantry soldier and has spent the past six months serving in Iraq. Marc knows that anytime he leaves for a deployment he will be coming home to an “updated” and changed house. Working on the house keeps Kellie occupied, and keeps her mind off of the realities of his job.

Detail of antique armoire doors

Kellie is a methodical decorator. She knows what she wants, and she saves up her cash for it. She works hard, and she shops wisely. She loves to mix vintage and antique and contemporary things, using a pale color palette of blues, whites, grays, lavender, and pink.

Detail of antique armoire

There is a pooch in the house named Toulouse, so everything is dog friendly. Toulouse is affectionately called Lucy, and was found walking the streets of Houston.

Lucy

She was homeless and they took her in. Kellie says, "I didn’t want a dog but Marc loved her so much that I caved."

Lucy has been a great dog and takes good care of Kellie while Marc is away. They assume Lucy is about 7 years old although they aren’t quite sure.


Kellie shops at perch. , and at other stores on Magazine Street. She supports local businesses as much as possible. She also is a savvy internet shopper.

She loves high end luxury things as well as anyone, but if her budget does allow for them, she scales down and uses one or two really nice things mixed in.

The living room
Kravet linen covered sofa - a definite investment and splurge
Synthetic Antelope area rug is very affordable
All of these pieces including fabric for pillows
and white lacquer coffee table are from perch.
Pink chair is vintage


Kellie's sister made the pillows

Vintage trim on pillow from perch.

Papier mache antelope head over fireplace - Stray Dog from perch.

Vintage pink chair

Right after Katrina, Kellie bought three Julie Neill chandeliers. She saved up for them and bought them one at a time. The prices were more reasonable then, though certainly not bargain basement.

Dining room chandelier then

Recently Kellie wanted to change her dining room chandelier, to coordinate with a Julie Neill fixture in her open floor plan kitchen/dining area/ living room. She had a modern one that ended up HERE

The two different chandeliers really work!

We searched long and hard for her, and realized that matching the kitchen fixture would be impossible, and that two different chandeliers could coexist, and be quite interesting and beautiful.

The dining room chandelier now

We considered many possibilities, but came back to a classic Swedish/French style wood turned chandelier. The only problem was the cost. Another Julie Neill chandelier was not doable.

The candle chandelier was wired for electricity
Antique Swedish dining table from perch.

I found a candle chandelier at Tommys Flower Shop in the French Quarter (933 Rue Royal, New Orleans, LA 70116, phone - 504-522-6563), and we had our perch. electrician wire it up.

The best part is that the cost was only $465. total! Compared to the starting cost in the $2000. range for a chandelier style like this we were pleased and Kellie was thrilled.

Kellie's grandmother's china

Kellie has some lovely china from her grandmother, and she mixes in vintage silverware and lovely monogrammed linen napkins when she sets the table.

Hem stitch linen napkin and vintage silverware

Dining room

Marc and Kellie had the kitchen redone. It has a small footprint, so they were able to use the luxury items they wanted: stone counter tops, farm house sink, stainless appliances, Carera subway tile black splash, and the drum style Julie Neill chandelier.

Carera marble subway tiles

The kitchen has a great mix

Each of the three bedrooms in the home are unique and beautiful.

The front bedroom has a French daybed, an antique tall clock, a zebra print hide on the floor, and a Lucite desk with a seat belt chair.

Seat belt chair from perch. paired with a Lucite desk

The white linen drapes with the wide black border were made by Kellie's sister. The chandelier is Julie Neill.

Antique daybed and Julie Neill chandelier in the office

Antique case clock in the bedroom that doubles as an office

The guest bedroom is all vintage from the charming painted bed and dresser, to the lamps and the chandelier.

Vintage painted bed in the guest room

The silk drapes were made by Kellie's sister, and the hand made return rod came from perch. The mirror night stands are from Pottery Barn.

Kellie got one king sham from Leontine Linens for the guest room
She said they were so nice to her to suggest this as a way to have a little luxury

It's no secret that Leontine Linens has beautiful and pricey things. So Kellie just got one king size monogrammed pillow sham for her guest bed. Just that one thing makes the bed look luxe.

Vintage painted dresser in guest room
Metal antlers from perch.

The lavender master bedroom has the third Julie Neill chandelier.

Kellie and Marc and I have been married for 7 years. They are a great match!

She says, "I’m a high-strung lunatic and he is cool, calm and laid-back. I am fortunate that my husband lets me do my thing with the house. He never balks at my girlie decorating or my constant projects. He is definitely secure in his masculinity. I think it’s great that my combat soldier of a husband sleeps in a Lily Lavender bedroom."

The Lily Lavender master bedroom

There are vintage side tables and chairs, and a fabulous Barbara Barry vanity with a Kartell Victoria Ghost chair and an antique trumeau mirror above it.

Barbara Barry vanity

Kartell Victoria Ghost chair

Side table in master bedroom

Silk drapes in master bedroom

The enclosed back porch (sun room) is adorable, with a French settee covered in pink on one side of the room, and a pair of sleek white Barcelona chairs on the other.

White drapes and a pink settee on the back porch

Heavily lined white duck drapes are very elegant and help keep the room cool in the Summer and warm in the winter.

White Barcelona chairs on the back porch


White Barcelona chairs on back porch


Lady paintings on the porch

Sweet blue shed in the back yard

The art collection interweaves a story throughout the entire house. Kellie and Marc collect local artists, and what they love. It is colorful and whimsical.

Side hall art gallery

The lady painting collection is impressive, and Kellie is always looking for another pretty lady to add to the bevy of beauties that grace her walls.

Vintage lady paintings

Vintage lady paintings

Vintage lady paintings

So there you have it! Kellie and Marc and their pretty little house. I hope it inspires you and that you had as much fun looking at all the photos as I had taking them.

Doll house in the office

Kellie's sister Maggie, is a beautiful seamstress and she has sewn all of the curtains and pillows throughout the house. She has an etsy website where she sells her original designs and creations, and she can also make just about anything to order.

In addition to her etsy website she sews military bags and purses for a company called “Hero On My Arm”. You can order a bag HERE

Kellie's sister Maggie makes the "Hero On My Arm" bags

Maggie used Marc's old fatigues and lined the bag with cute a cute floral

I asked Kellie how her home made her and Marc feel: "I am definitely a nester, and I love my nest. My job is in sales and I spend my days talking and meeting and negotiating. At the end of the day, I want tranquility. My house is just that…soft, calm and quiet. I love when it’s late at night and Marc and I are on the couch watching TV with the dog at our feet and the dishwasher humming. I feel safe and serene. So lovely. Marc’s much simpler and easier than me. He just wants a place to eat his Cheetos, take a shower, and grow tomatoes."

Marc and Kellie both grew up in New Orleans but in different parts of the city. She was a west bank kid (Algiers) and Marc grew up in eastern New Orleans and the Northshore. They both love New Orleans and plan on staying.



PS Today is my birthday. I am holding at 100! My birthday wish is for Marc and all those who are serving to come home safe and sound.

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