Before and After- the Breakroom

Last June I posted about a break room that I was working on. We "gutted" the room, as you can see above. I thought I would follow-up with some "after" shots. See the first post here. In an effort to stay on budget- we only wallpapered a couple of walls- one wall is the wall the gal in purple is leaning against. You can't see the wallpaper so good - but it really looks great in person. We used the same one I had selected in the first post.

There you go- the interior design field isn't all glamour- but I enjoy even the "break room" jobs.

The Classroom

I thought I would show you some specifications on a commercial job that I am currently working on. This is for a classroom/ instruction area of a nursing home. The room is in it's own building- which is nice, as I don't have to coordinate with any other colors- it gives me more freedom. Above are the window treatments- Hunter Douglas Contract Roller Shades. No one should ever use vertical blinds. EVER. They are too ugly. The end.

This is the carpet- Sunshowers and Metro by Nood- although- not the right color. I am specifying #71915 Kendall Charcoal / Guilford Green. The colors in the room are going to be shades of gray/ green/ and white. I like the dots on the carpet- it is a fun pattern. I am specifying squares in both the subtle stripe and the dot- in a checkerboard pattern.

This is the wallpaper- Vibe by Ronald Redding- fabulous. There is no wall decor other than wipe boards in here- so the wallpaper is going to give the room it's style.

So as to not distract the students- the wall where the instruction will take place will be painted instead of papered. The color above- Austere Gray by Sherwin Williams will be on that wall. It matches the paper perfectly- and yet here it doesn't look like it does- just trust me. This color will come off as a shade of green.

The furniture is from IKEA- the Jules chair and the Billaster table. I like the idea of repeating the "dot" of the carpet in the chair. It is also a crisp sharp look in white. It will brighten the room and still be an easy surface to keep white. However- if we end up having more $ in the budget- I would prefer a more comfortable chair.

So- there you go- not as glamorous as some jobs- but it is going to look great! I will take "before and after photos." As all of you should- I want to see your jobs when you are done! :) Have a great day!

Christine

Govinder Nazran and Beth's Playroom

Dear Christine,

Your Blog is Too cute! I love it :). You need to post some designs you've done (or maybe they are on there and I can't see them because I'm too stupid to figure it out!). Anyway...I'm getting ready to finish of my kids' SMALL playroom (its probably 15'x15'). I thought about doing a graphic wallpaper on 2 walls OR paint something graphic (save $$ since I know they will eventually rip the room up anyway). Any suggestions? I LOVE orange and the furniture is: chocolate brown futon, dark brown TV cabinet, (eventually) gloss white coffee table. The style of furniture is modern. The walls (right now) are a sand color (I'd like to keep that on the walls that I don't do something with). Any suggestions for a graphic paper/design that I can paint? Let me know about seeing what you've done in the past - I'd love to look! Beth :)

Hi Beth,

I think I can answer both of your questions at once. I will show you an old job- and show you a graphic design that you can paint at the same time. A past client of mine had me decorate their baby's room. They had a very modern home and wanted to keep the nursery consistent with the tones and feel of the rest of their place. One of their favorite artists was Govinder Nazran. (All of the pictures above are his.) I took a couple of his pieces purchased the poster version- and designed a mural and a growth chart for the nursery. (my mom was the artist- she is fantastic :) The large wall is based on his painting- Me and my Brother. I just read that he tragically died in December of 2008. How sad.

Here is a summary for you- on how to create this look in your playroom:

1. Find an artist that you love.


2. Select a color pallet to pull your room together. Pull in your orange, your brown, your white, and the sand. Carefully and thoughtfully select your colors.


3. Make a copy of the print, plan out where you will use your colors.


4. Use your existing wall color in your mural- to tie it together as well.

Waaallaa! it will look great! Send me a photo when you are done!

Play it up- or Play it down?

Dear Christine,

I am a color nightmare. I just repainted our entire house blue and I am going to have to live with it but my husband has conceded to repaint our bedroom,thank goodness! As you can see it is very bright but icy at the same time. The only budget I have left is for paint, bedding, possible drapes if not too expensive. Please offer any suggestions for this space. We have vaulted ceilings, french doors facing west and one window facing north with neutral carpet. Is there any hope!

I will await your response please soon.

Warm regards,

Christina

Dear Christina,

This is a good lesson in paint for everyone. Let me go through a few rules of paint:

1. ALWAYS buy a sample quart :) Some people like these bright shades, but I can tell from your note, that it was not what you were hoping for.
2. White brings out the color and makes it stronger. You can have a light beige or off white paint and if you put a crisp white next to it, all of a sudden what was a dark white turned into a pretty light beige. Sometimes this trick can be your friend. In your case- it is your foe. The bright white linens in the room could give you the "Restoration Hardware" look- if your paint were a bit more subdued, but with the bright paint, you, instead, are making it even brighter with all the white.


3. I did a nursery in a showcase house a few years ago where I used the color " chatroom" by Sherwin Williams. Click here- see chatroom SW6171. It looks gray huh? Look at the nursery at the top of the post. - That's the color. This is why more peope should hire a designer. :) It either takes a lot of sample quarts, a fantastic eye, or a professional to select good paint colors. If you want the look - but more subdued- go find this color, and some that are similar. Buy some sample quarts and get painting. I gave some other specific paint colors in this post.


4. I would go one of two directions with your color in your home:

*Play it up: Embrace the bright! Pretend like you meant to paint it exactly like you did! Make your home a fun oasis of bright colors and mixed pattern. Remember that contrasting colors will really bring out the tones- oranges would really pop!- It is a fun color- bring out the fun with a look with some bright bedding like this one from Anthropologie: or this quilt from Garnet Hill:

Use fun bright patterns- mix the right combination for a fantastic look!

For more ideas-

Check out the pillows in this post. Consider the rugs in this post. This is another home that reminds me of yours- check out the advice I gave Allison in this post.

OR...

* Play it down: Subdue your bright color by using muted colors like brown and beige with it. These fabrics are from Fabricut. Check out this beautiful paisley, and this fantastic leopard. Removing the white in the rooms and replacing it with browns and beiges will give you a sophisticated relaxed feeling to your home.

So- which way should Christina go? Play it up? or Play it down?

If you haven't votes for your favorite Interior Designer- click here:

The Break Room

I am working on the new design for an employee "break room" in a nursing home. The staff had a "vote" for the elements they wanted in the room. The results included- a long table, a sofa, beige walls, and a TV. I based my design around these items, as well as incorporating room for two microwaves and two refrigerators.I will have a small bar built- with microwaves above, and three of these barstools. (spacify $450) The counter will be finished in Formica Black Lava- the shelves will be in Beech.
There will be a sofa in the room- the sofa is from Costco- Sofa dimensions:75“W X 31“D X 37“H. Cost: $599- includes shipping.

I have three chairs picked out- (which is your favorite?) I prefer the round top- but price might win over.. :) Has anyone seen any round top chairs for around $100? Crate and Barrel used to carry them- but I can't find them there anymore....

From Spacify- $90
From Topedq $149.

Sometimes an item is almost "too inexpensive- this chair I found from stackchairs4less.com is only $22... would that worry you- or would you run out and get it- assuming that all others are over- priced? I would hate to have an item selected by ME- falling apart... But I am on a limited budget- and I would like some mirrors above the sofa :)

This table is from Spacify, and I will order it with a fusion maple top and black legs. It has a high pressure laminate top and steel legs- so it should hold up very well. It is 96 x 44 x 29

This is the wall decor that I am specifying. It will be as pictured above- 106 inches wide and 59 inches in height. This runs $1000.00

This is my wallpaper selection for the room. It is from Ronald Redding Designs, Divine. This will give the room a contemporary atmosphere - and will also be more durable than just paint. The room itself has very little natural light- so keeping the walls light will give the room a bright feel- even for the night shift.

Any ideas for the break room? What do you think would make the dream break room?

Update- well- the breakroom is underway- the sofa was no longer available from Costco by the time it was approved for purchase- so I have re-selected from Scandinavian Designs- it is a couple hundred more- so we'll hope it can be worked into the project budget. I sat in this sofa yesterday in their showroom and it was very comfortable. I think the employees will love it! Cost: $795 plus $69 for delivery. It is also wider- 82 inches- so we'll have to make sure it will fit.