9/30/2016

Camera Ready Interiors




I am so excited about this event. The lovely Jana Bek (you know, fab interior designer, lamp-maker, and textile designer) asked me to take part in a #CameraReadyInteriors blog collaboration with 23 crazy talented designers to highlight the photographers who capture our work so well. I think this is the best idea. These photos drive our business. These spaces are enjoyed and lived in by the homeowners but until photographers do their thing, sharing the space is nearly impossible.

These wonderful, lovely, talented and oh-so patient saints of photographers have to jump many a hurdle to give us those perfectly styled images that we long for of our spaces. And we certainly don't make it easy on them.

 To put you in my shoes for photo day, I'll paint a picture.

There's probably one tiny ounce of light sneaking in a window across the house as your photographer tries to shoot the wallpaper in a windowless powder room that you insist on having a picture of. You just say sorry, smile, and offer more coffee. Right out of the shot there is a 5 ft tall pile of miscellaneous shoes, dog toys, soccer balls, stuffed animals, mail, and laundry because there is an actual family who lives in this space and they left for work/school five minutes before you and your photographer got there to shoot. While making this pile, you smile and offer a muffin. There is most likely a dog... a big bumbly dog who makes for great pictures and is precious, but also wants to eat the one million dollar camera. At this point offer the dog a bone and get him away from that camera, because one million dollars was probably an exaggeration but it's closer than you think. Promise. Theres a  weird light coming in and bed sheets must be adhered to windows with painters tape in order to keep the said weird light out. Smile and suggest that it's time for lunch (I've learned that a fed photographer is a happy photographer). Even if you thought the space was 100% perfect and finished, every single thing must be moved for photos. Nothing translates the same, so your understanding, kind, and patient photographer will help you rearrange the room ten times to figure out what translates best on camera. Just say Thank you. Oh yeah, and you are looking at every shot as it's taken to decide which pillows need tweaking... a photographers dream. All of this to say, photographers are magic.

That's an exaggerated picture of photoshoot day, although all of those things definitely have happened.

Photo shoot days really are the best days. Despite the challenges our talented photographers face, they enjoy it (or at least pretend to) and these days are always crazy fun. I am so glad they put up with all the hubbub to capture these spaces for us. There is absolutely nothing like seeing a space you created in professional photo form. It's seriously like Christmas every time I get photos back. These people deserve so much credit.

First up is Luke Cleland of Cleland Studios. Luke has been shooting my spaces from the beginning. We have watched our businesses grow together and that has been so fun and encouraging. At this point, Luke knows exactly what shots I want and gets them every time. He comes to town and we shoot for days getting photos of all the things. We are zombies by the end of the week. Then, I get to nap all weekend, while Luke still has the job of editing the millions of photos that give me content for all my social media channels, blog, ads, and website. Getting these images in no joke and Luke takes providing me with content very seriously. He knows how to squeeze a million photos out of a space getting every last detail. So much gratitude here. My business certainly wouldn't be where it is today without Luke's work. Check out Luke's work here and here.






Next up is Kim Gibson. This Lady. She is one of the nicest, best people I have ever met... and crazy talented to boot. I met Kim when she shot a dinner I styled this Summer for Greenville Creatives that was featured on the Southern Living Blog. This dinner was a magical night and Kim captured every detail beautifully. While shooting, Kim had every one involved with the dinner in mind. You could tell she was thinking about content for everyone involved throughout the whole night while snapping photos. None of us were disappointed.


Kim then took these crazy beautiful photos of Maisy and I... and when I said "Hey, I want you to take photos of me and my dog," she was like "of course". Then I knew we were kindred spirits. These photos of my sweet baby girl are precious to me and I love Kim and her lovely self for capturing them.

Now, Kim shoots some spaces for me and helps createblog content. So Thankful for this lady! Kim's work can be seen here and here.



I am so excited to share the work of these two talented people with y'all. My business would seriously not be what it is today if I didn't have quality photos and these two people on my side.

I cannot wait to see the work of all the other photographers that are being highlighted through #CameraReadyInteriors. Search through the hashtag or the links are below for all the other designers that are sharing. Some major design crushes and crazy talented girl bosses here.




Happy Friday Y'all! XO, Amanda Louise

9/12/2016

Hello Yellow Kitchen


Photo by Luke Cleland

It's definitely not a secret that yellow is my color. Yellow everything... except yellow cars. Those aren't really my jam. Other than that, it's my first choice for every personal color decision. So when I had stared at our white kitchen for as long as I possibly could, the answer was yellow. 

We needed to make a big visual impact on the cheap. We have been in a condo for a few years and it's been great for this season of life, but it's not where we plan to be much longer. There needed to be a balance of buying me some more time to feel more at home here and not sinking too much money into the space. I needed to make this space happy until we make our next move so we went the cosmetic route.

 I love this space. However, I did think that having a happy kitchen would make me cook more. I thought I would magically be making frittatas like the Barefoot Contessa. I have still never made a Frittata and if I'm being honest, I have no idea how to make a Frittata or really what a Frittata is. But despite the lack of Frittatas, here's a little tour of how I gave our blank slate a little yellow fever. 


Get ready for the before... 


There it is. Pretty "blah". Pretty wonky. Pretty white. 

I needed some color and now it's yellow. In my book, that's always better. 

I do 100% understand that this was not a good move for resale, but my thought is that we will enjoy it for a while and then it can be painted again. No big deal and I'm happier. Isn't that what home is about?!


For the cabinet paint color, I chose Valspar's Pineapple Mousse. It was the perfect happy shade and I mean, obviously the perfect name.


We took the cabinet doors off of this section of cabinetry and papered the inside with this Rifle Paper Co. for Hygge and West goodness. This was the best choice to add in some pattern and interest and it also ties all the colors in the space together. I was amazed at how just having some open cabinetry, opened up the whole space. 


 


I struggled with the dark countertops and how I would make them work with a bright cabinet color. The wallpaper was the perfect ingredient to complete the mix.


For the backsplash, I went with a solid white subway that would work with whatever happens in here down the road. Paint is easy to change but I figured I should keep the tile classic. Dark grout ties to the darker elements in the room. 


Again to add some drama and tie to the counters, I chose a rug with black and used one of my favorite animal prints for a skirt under the sink. 


We removed the cabinet doors and attached this paneled skirt. Not only were the cabinet doors not in the best shape, it was also an excuse to get some more pattern and texture into a room where there are normally not a ton of opportunities to do that. You know I always want more pattern! 









For hardware, I 2-day Primed these honeys and they ended up being the perfect scale and low-key gold tone. This kitchen only has two drawers but to avoid patching holes, I picked up two t-shaped pulls from Hobby Lobby that I love and blend well with the Amazon pulls for the cabinets. 


This little kettle from Glory Day Loflin, makes me so so happy and is the perfect fun addition to the space. 

 

For the walls and this server, I went with Sherwin Williams Extra White. Never did I ever think that I would paint walls in my house white. Never, but I am so on board now. Possibilities are endless with white walls. I can do anything with white walls. The world is my oyster with white walls. 

But seriously, this was the best way to balance the yellow and I'm now a major fan of the white wall. 


These pulls came from Hobby Lobby and were cream colored bone pattern. I dry brushed over them with some black paint, letting the bone pattern show through and then sealed them with Mod Podge. 



I added in drapes in a colorful floral with just a touch of yellow. 


I keep these handy for any urges to ever make a frittata. 


And here's a look into the entry way. Lots of dogs. Lots of citrus hues. Just what I like. A friend painted goes gorgeous lemons for me and they make me so so happy. 


Happy Day, Friends! 

XO, Amanda Louise

9/04/2016

Green Goodness in a Spray Can




Hi, friends! I hope that Everyone's long weekend has been killer. Our's has been mega chill over here and it is just what we needed. There has been an insane amount of football, good food and puppy cuddles which is just what I like for a September weekend. 

I was looking through lamps on Joss and Main yesterday and saw that these beauties were on sale. I picked up one of these same lamps at HomeGoods a year or so ago... sprayed it, changed the shade, of course added some beads, and never looked back. 

I'm going to share step by step, how you can transform these lamps and I'm going to let you guys in on one of my favorite spray paint secrets of all time. 

Here we go. 

First off, buy these lamps... Just do it. They are good. 


Secondly, I need you to go to your home improvement store of choice and buy this spray paint. You might feel weird about doing this. You may have never pictured yourself buying tractor paint. You may start singing that Kenny Chesney song or possibly even worse, the Jason Aldean one. But power through and just buy it. Then immediately blast a non tractor themed song as soon as you get back to the car.




Now, Spray that lamp! Spray it real good and this magic paint will leave you with what I think is the perfect green, glossy combo. A far cry from any tractor I've ever been around. 


The shade is next. I added a navy shade that I also picked up at HomeGoods, but I am OBSESSED with these crazy good shades from Minted. Here are a few of my favorites prints, but there are basically a million. 








Once you have your shade (and I hope you got a fun one!), all you need are the finishing touches. Find a awesome finial and put some beads or a tassel around the neck for some texture and interest. I opted for an acrylic cube finial and some chunky yellow beads I picked up. You can find all the lamp accoutrements you could ever think of in a million years at one of my latest obsessions on Etsy, Woman Shops World. So many gorgeous tassels and beads in all the colors from all around the globe.  


And there you have it, friends! I just shared one of my favorite secrets... because I've always been a terrible secret keeper. You now have an easy peasy one day project that will take any off the shelf or vintage lamp with good bones to new heights of green goodness. 

XO, Amanda Louise