A kind of uninspired New York rental needs a little TLC. The bones are good, the natural light is great, the location is fantastic, but these newlyweds with little knowledge of design and less cash need help! Lucky for them we're related. I can't have my stepson and new daughter- in-law living in a light grey box with neutral furniture from a previous apartment and bad lighting without wanting, NEEDING to help "zush" it up.
It all began when Lamps.com approached me to do a sponsored post. That was the spark! I was already familiar with this fantastic local company and was more than enthusiastic to collaborate with them. Thank you Lamps.com!
BEFORE
The basics are there but ~ snooze..... The existing furniture may not be what we would have chosen for the place and it's a bit big, but they brought it with them from their last apartment. It wasn't about buying new (maybe for the next nest), this was about working with what we had and adding a few things into the mix that brought a little color and texture into the space. As I always say, "we need a dash of drama."
Matt and Jamie loved the idea of a touch of red. The corner bar was a jumping off point. Now we had to float the color around the room for balance and consistency. The ceiling light was inappropriate and off center.
AFTER
We added red touches around the room. In each case it has a lot of texture: the nubby pillows, the twig balls, the wool throw, the oil on canvas. The black and white pillows are cowhide for additional texture and speak to the rug. The coloration ties all the elements together. I switched out the accessories on the raw wooded cocktail table for a more dramatic tableau and the arch lamp from Crate and Barrel I have used over and over. It is a great statement piece with a matching price point!
Jamie said something really cute, "I'm 27, I don't know what my taste is." That's true of almost every young person. Your aesthetic is not fully formed, so you "try things on" to see how they fit. Do you love it? Will you love it in a couple years? What speaks to you? By the way, it's an on-going process that keeps evolving over time. That is why I say when you are ready to invest, "Buy the best you can afford in classic (neutral) colors with classic lines." You can change the things around as your taste changes without costly mistakes or make-overs.
The pewter deer adds a touch of whimsy and speaks to our love of the West.
The awkward existing ceiling lamp had to go. The hanging light made a huge difference. With it's gleaming chrome chain and blown glass globe, your eye is brought down and a more intimate eating area is established, while the twine balls lift your gaze up again and balance out the other side of the room.
We wrestled with what to choose from Lamps.com. The obvious choice would have been to get a lamp, but they recently introduced fabulous furniture and home decor items. I think we got the biggest bang for our buck with the graphic wool rug we ultimately chose ~
Don't you?
What a difference a rug makes! We choose this thick wool rug in a black and white graphic pattern to insure it coordinates with what we had and what we added in an effort to make this apartment a home expressing Matt and Jamie's burgeoning design aesthetic. They're leaning towards cool & contemporary with natural elements. "They make me so proud!"
The Surya rug is the "shot in the arm" that this room needed. There's that "dash of drama" again. That is why I have made it my motto. Every room needs something to make it POP!
Surya is a company that is known for adapting what is relevant and fashion forward into home decor products that are always on trend. That's the type of business alignment Lamps.com seeks in an effort to be viewed as a "go to" vendor carrying the new and noteworthy! As renters your hands are tied in many ways when trying to design a place to call your own. Owners have a lot of rules about what you can and cannot do; the latter being the longer list. With just the addition of a rug, a pillow, and a throw, the bedroom feels cozier and looks smashing from the living room?
Had I had my druthers, I would have pushed to add temporary wallpaper to one of the living room walls in an effort to create a coordinated bold, graphic accent wall. I wanted to beef up the curtains as well but we were hesitant to put more holes in the walls, and I have not personally had any experience with the temporary wallpapers on the market. The idea is brilliant, but the reviews are mixed on the outcome and whether it actually peels off without a trace of adhesive. The landlord insured us we were on our own. Fear won out. I love the idea and it solves a real renter's dilemma when you want to put your own stamp on a place. If anyone has used it, I'd love to hear your thoughts and/or experience. It's not too late to add.
Lamps.com with its passion for design maintains a thoughtfully curated collection of modern and traditional merchandise. The selection is vast. With over 100,000 light fixtures and the recent addition of furniture and home decor, this young, dynamic company is on the move! They were recently named the Philadelphia 100's 4th fastest growing privately held business. GO TEAM! They work tirelessly to provide a great shopping experience, believe in outstanding customer service and use cutting edge technology to ensure growth and evolve the business. Navigating the site is simple and their blog imparts lots of funny or informative news you can use. Plans for more merchandise and collaborations are in the works.
Check out Lamps.com gift guide for great suggestions to ensure a merry and bright holiday this season.
All this with free bulbs and free shipping ~ Illuminate yourself ~ don't be left in the dark!
