Kitchen B&A Part 2

Alright, now on to the other side....here is the before-

And the after...

We had discussed a banquette in the the window but then we found these chairs and they were just so comfortable and mobile and that is what this space needs right now.  While spacious, when several people are at the table it is hard to get around (hence the space under the painting where originally a console was planned).

 Details are always very important.  It is hard to capture the beauty in these but the richness of the main fabric and amazing texture and colors in the banding are so subtle yet striking in person.

There are so many elements of I love in this space but my favorite was definitely the wallpaper.  A little goes a long way, or in this case a lot goes long way!

Images Marianne Strong Interiors

Let's Talk about my white sofa

I've received a bajillion emails and messages with questions about my new white sofa so I thought I'd share some details & info on it.

{My tiny guy & my new white sofa}

It's from Restoration Hardware and it's the Belgian track arm sofa.  It was a bit of an impulse purchase... one we thought long & hard about (is it weird to talk about the purchase of a sofa for hours over the course of a couple of weeks??) but an impulse purchase nonetheless because I didn't really think it through the way I should have.

With my clients, I keep them safe...  In my own house, I take the hits.  We're the guinea pigs.  We try things I would never be comfortable recommending until I'd tried myself.  Case in point: a white sofa.  I have never recommended a pure white UPHOLSTERED sofa to a client.  Washable slipcovers, yes, but nonwashable, no neva.

So... before I ordered the sofa, I got the sample of my fabric- the Indoor-Outdoor Perennials Linen Collection in White- and I trashed the thing.  I smeared a greasy gob of tomato from a pizza on it.  I let it sit a while and then I worked the stain out.  It came out perfectly clean!!  You could basically just hose this thing off and it came out perfect!  Over the course of a few weeks, I'd take the memo out and shake my head that there was no residue from the nasty stain I'd made and that's really what sold me.

{And the fact that it's totally gorgeous}

I thought about using my usual trade sources but I was impatient and had already seen the magic of the fabric, so I went with Restoration Hardware.

But I'd forgotten my own previous experience with a nonwashable white sofa which is- it's not the stains that get you because they can usually be worked out, it's the daily dinge and grime that kills the sofa.  We've had a couple of times where I've had to work out stains from the sofa and it's done really well, but it's when we have lots of people over and there are lots of blue jeans and bare legs and feet on my sofa that really mess it up.  I've tossed a pretty blanket over the back rail because it's in a major walkway of the house where people tend to lean on & touch so there's no problem there but the bottom seat cushion itself didn't stay  looking good for very long.  It started looking a bit gray and just not fresh at all like the rest of the sofa.

I started thinking of my back-up plan...  (This had secretly been in my head all along but I hadn't wanted to go there.)  The indoor-outdoor fabric isn't supposed to be machine washable.  But I took a deep breath one day and threw it in the washing machine.  I couldn't take looking at the dinginess anymore.  I put it on cold & gentle and used a ton of spray & wash and it came out perfectly white.  I let it air dry.

My sofa looked so good again!!  I only washed the seat cushion and am dreading having to wash the sofa slipcover itself (and may never have to- at least for a long while) because things can tear and get messed up in the washing machine if they're not meant to be washed and I've got to worry about the shape--- but I'm definitely going to keep washing the cushion covers.

The perennials fabric itself attracts little bits of lint from people's clothing and so it looks a little pilly.  The washing didn't get rid of those and so to get rid of them, I literally have to pick them off like lint on a sweater.    It is what it is.

It's super-comfy, really pretty and a bit of a pain to deal with.

So- would I recommend this sofa?  Sofa itself, I like.  Perennials in WHITE??  Not so much.  I know that when I'm washing it, I'm getting rid of whatever is on it to make it bullet-proof.  (Washing treated fabric also washes away the treatment.) So if you HAVE to have a white sofa like I did-  I'd really recommend going washable.  At this point, I'm just telling myself I own a sofa with a washable white slipcover and I'm forgetting that it had any magical stain-proof qualities.  As a washable white slipcovered sofa- I like (and kind of love) it.

So for me, it's a "yes."  For a client?  I'd still have to say "no" because it's pretty risky.  If it was in another color other than white (the natural, for example) it would probably be great because even a slight color off from white hides the daily grime although the fuzz/pills would still slightly bug me.  (We have a very light- almost white- "natural"-colored twill slipcover upstairs and have had it for 5+ years and it still looks amazing.  (Also by Restoration Hardware!)

I will probably keep washing mine for a few years and I do plan on having an alternate slipcover made some time (way) in the future to be able to switch it up.

Anyway, hope this helps!!




If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Kitchen B&A Part 1

 I believe this kitchen has been on here before but there have been some recent changes, along with better after pictures (although still not professional!).  This kitchen needed a facelift without major reconstruction.  Here is the before...

 And after...

The brick floor I felt was a must stay but it was refinished.  New wallpaper, countertops, backsplash, appliances and paint breathed a whole new look and feel into this kitchen, I have to say I love it.

More to come tomorrow!

 Images Marianne Strong Interiors

Recent Inspiration

Organized Closet

Dark Wood Lined Shelves

Jeans and Cute Shoes

Unexpected Stair Detail

Quaint Cottage

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 All Via Pinterest

Quiet Time

Via

Our kitchen Island...

....  Is ALMOST there!!  

 {our antique pulls}

I want to show you more pics but my computer is still being evil and only allowing me to put upside down and sideways pictures on the blog!!! (ahhhhhhrrrg)

But here's one sideways one to give you an idea of how they look:

 {Drawer pulls make life so much easier}

I was planning on gluing pretty old nailheads on top of the screws but now that the pulls are in, I'm not really feeling like I need to do anything to make them look better... but what do you think?
We're a bit short of wood so need to wait for more before doing the sides and I'm so excited!!  It's such a big piece in the room and so when it's finished, I really think it's going to make our home feel so much more "done."
Would love to know your thoughts on the screws!!


If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Blog Construction

Hi there, still working on the new blog over here.  Several of you asked if the blog roll with status updates is coming back.  I am still trying to decide.  Like you, it made reading other blogs easier.  However, it took up so much space and I am trying to simplify.  Until I decide which way to officially go, you can find my blog list on one of the tabs above.  Please excuse the mess, I am still working on that too.  

Also, I had to share my source for the social media buttons on the side.  I found MoxieTonic on Etsy and I am so glad I did.  Not only are the buttons cute but her guide on how to write the code to get it to work was great.  I chose the circles but these are cute too.