Let the Decorating Begin!

                                                                              

Testing the blue color on the ceiling.

Sarah loves it.  

 "Holy chic! This paint color is GORGEOUS!"

Sarah has chosen a simple Navajo White for the walls and gloss white for the base board, chair rail and crown molding.

Next, deciding on a window treatment style and fabrics for the window and chairs.  Keeping in thought the poolside cabana, white drapery with black accents, such as an inset banding following a geometric design was an option. 

Sarah shares her thoughts on the window treatment design...  

"I like classic black and white.  A solid color drapery was certainly an option, but when I saw the black and white geometric print from Greenhouse Fabrics, I knew it was the perfect choice for floor length drapery panels" 

What about the drapery design?  Sarah shares her concern for keeping a balance between the old and new. 

"Our home was built in 1942.  It is a Colonial Cape.  It features traditional moldings and hardwood floors.  I don't want this room to look like it landed from outer space, it has to look like it fits.  I chose to keep my traditional furnishings and mirrors.  I also opted to go with light walls and classic white woodwork"

Simple white slipcovers for the chairs will fit in perfectly with the Colonial style of the home but there will be a twist... chunky black zippers will be used in the center back and black vinyl seats will make the chairs easy to clean for this busy family.  Rowley Company's Laurie Medford has started creating a pattern.

In addition to the window and chair fabrics, Sarah has also chosen a solid red which will add a pop of color in a warmer hue as an accent color.

The fabrics were selected, the order placed and Greenhouse delivered in two days to the workroom here at Rowley Company.  We are excited to begin sewing!

Greenhouse Fabrics black & white print: #A1636 Black Jack, solid red: #98918 Crimson, solid white: #92865 Natural White and black vinyl: 74962 Black

More Makeover Ideas

Blue walls, patterned slipcovers and a bold black-and-white drapery design

More design ideas from Sarah Gleason for the dining room makeover.  This time Sarah shows a great affinity for blue!  Blue walls in the first sketch and blue ceilings in the next two.   

Side panels with a sheer relaxed shade, blue ceiling and a black fireplace mantle.

Slipcovers for the dining chairs, new modern art for the buffet and blue ceiling.

We love the blue ceiling, it reminds us of a quiet, breezy porch.  The perfect spot to relax on a long summer afternoon.

Sarah loves the idea of a pool of blue above...

On my trip last summer, we had cocktails by the pool of The Viceroy Hotel.  I want my dining room to feel as elegant but my pool will be on the ceiling!  

 

Sarah has chosen a color for the ceiling.

Benjamin Moore, Madison Avenue 759 

 

Now on to wall and trim color, fabrics and furniture.  Here are a few more inspiration pictures of this refreshing color.

Check back for more updates as the dining room makeover continues....

A Dining Room Makeover: The Process Begins

 

Rowley Company is partnering with up-and-coming interior designer Sarah Gleason, SFG Designs, Richmond, VA to completely make-over a dining room.  

We will record the transformation here, on our blog, from the initial brainstorming and sketches to the final installation of window treatments.  

You can be part of the process by sharing your ideas and comments along the way,  and then participate in our live webinar broadcast on August 23, 2011 at 11:00 am EST where Sarah will join Rowley Company's Laurie Medford and Susan Woodcock to share the details of the room transformation including upholstery and window treatment techniques.

A room. A budget. A thousand ideas.

Sarah shares her thoughts with us... 

"I have run over 1,000 possibilities in my head for how this room should look. I am really having a fit deciding on paint colors...I keep leaning towards a teal, but have also considered yellow, apple green, and light gray.  The family room is dark gray, and I will be repainting the hallway a neutral.  Here is a picture of the dining room for you to see"

  

Inspiration

"I have always had a yen for black, white, and apple green....I am thinking Palm Springs...Rat Pack modern.....maybe apple green walls, pavilion-tent look curtains...I like that black and white trellis fabric from Greenhouse as chair back, with black patent or vinyl on the chair seats"

Greenhouse Fabrics from the Iman II collection, A1636 Black Jack

"I stayed at this hotel last summer, Riveara Palm Springs.  FABULOUS place.  I love the strong graphics, bright colors, modern artwork and very hip light fixtures"  

Check back for more ideas, inspiration, sketches, paint colors, fabrics and window treatment designs.

Angled Top, Pleated Panels

Large windows are a challenge but add a sharp angled top and it almost seems like an impossible task!  

We recently received this kind note and photos from one of our recent webinar attendees.  What a beautiful finished drapery on a very large and difficult window.  Thank you Ann for sharing your work with us and for attending our online seminars. You have inspired us! 

Dear Rowley,

Thank you all so much for the very informative webinar you ran last week. (Demystifying Arched Panel Styles) I was in the position of finishing off two such curtains – both over 4 metres/ 12 feet high!

Although I had already figured out the maths for these windows, it was good to gain an insight into the mechanics of other draperies! I had to rely purely on math for mine – my curtain panels were too huge to consider making a template, although I can see how much easier it would be if you have a pattern!

The curtain panels were over 4 metres long and 4 metres wide before pleating, so I had to come up with a whole new method for achieving the result. I used buckram sections for each pleat and relied on a protractor for the 137° angles.  I used 2” Velcro to attach to the back of the curtain heading, which worked really well.

I was very pleased with the result and am looking forward to the opportunity to working on any in the future! I thought you might like to see the photos I took of the work that was fitted yesterday. They were so big, I couldn’t get it all in a photo!

Thank you once again.
Kind Regards,

Ann Bailey
Designer Touch Curtains

Joann Wieberdink shared this recent kitchen project of combination cornices and soft shades.  Joann, owner of Couture Creations in Kellyville, OK created these unique window treatments for Denise Designs.  They feature banded accent cornices for panels and relaxed Romans. 

This project was a challenge for Joann, who shared this story with us...

 "I took the sketch of the designs to Vision 2011.  Laurie (Medford) is the one who helped me with the construction of the small center cornice pieces in the long relaxed roman shades.  She told me to use FirmaFlex and to just attach it to the mount board.  

I had no idea how to do those center pieces and had spent most of one sleepless night agonizing over it. When she said, "just screw it into the mount board" it was like a light went off in my head.  IT COULDN'T BE THAT EASY!!!  But it was.  

All the cornice pieces on the long  treatment are FirmFlex.  I love that stuff and so does my husband who cut it for me.  THANKS! LAURIE AND ROWLEY!" 

We think the end results are fabulous!  Thanks Joann for sharing your project with us.

Another Grommet Pillow to Share

We are excited to share another pillow using the plastic grommets from Rowley Company.  This design features an inset panel of material outlined with Micro Welt Cord and Antique Copper color Triangle Plastic Grommets.  A handsome and unique design.

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Everyone Loves this Pillow!

This pillow is one of the most popular new designs created around Rowley Company lately.

Everyone that see's it wants to take it home. Custom details like grommets, belt straps and the fun modern fabric make it clever and unique.

If you are looking for a summer project to share with your children or grandchildren, this pillow is easy to make and requires only basic sewing skills.

Of course, the basic idea could be enhanced with your own talents and skills to include metal grommets, welt cord, ruffles or fringe in the seams.  Imagine this on a rectangular pillow sham or a round accent pillow.  Using materials like leather, fur, velvet and metal grommets would create an entirely different and eclectic look.

Here are the step-by-step details:

Materials and Supplies:
1 18" x 18" pillow such as PJ18
6 Plastic Grommets GPT15 in the color of your choice
1/2 yard fabric for front and back
1/2 yard fabric for straps and to reveal in grommet holes

Cutting and Sewing:
Cut front and back pieces 18" x 18".
Cut 1 contrast piece 18" x 18" and 6 pieces 4" x 7"

Mark grommet holes 3" from top, bottom and side edges on the pillow front.

Cut three grommet holes along one side and then fold the material over to mark the holes for the opposite side.

Add plastic grommets.  These grommets are easy to press together by hand with no special tools required.  For a long-lasting join, add glue around the neck of the grommet before snapping together.

Place the pillow front over the contrast piece. 

Sew together long edges of the strap pieces and press with the seam centered along the back.

Put the straps through the grommets from the front to the back, with the seam down and pin in place.  Sew around the edges to secure the front piece, contrast piece and straps in place.

Place the back piece face down over the face, pin and sew around the edges.  Turn right sides out and press the edges with an iron.

Stuff the pillow insert into the pillow and hand sew closed.  A zipper could also be used.

And to keep this cute pillow company, another grommet pillow with a daisy design.