Updating Your Home

The Powder Room: Whimsical & Eclectic

Posted by Mallory on May 6, 2013 Leave a Comment

I recently read a blog post in which someone was trying find a place to hang some lovely wallpaper by Orla Kiely. She makes beautiful & whimsical pieces with lots of bright colors, and guess where this blogger was thinking the wallpaper should go? That’s right: in a little bathroom. Part of me wonders why it is that so many of us feel that we have to release all of our whimsical decorating endeavors into the smallest room of the house — but then again, think of all the wonderfully whimsical things created just for bathrooms! Whether it’s a claw foot tub to soak in, a shower curtain with a fabulously cheerful print or a repurposed sink vanity that you find irresistible, there are so many fun ways to decorate/design a bathroom in unconventional ways. I want to show you a few of the routes you can take to achieve an eclectic, whimsical style in your powder room:

1. Bright, Whimsical Colors!

(Image from Houzz.com, Designed by Greenbelt Homes)
Here is a lovely, bright color with white fixtures…

(Image from Houzz.com, Designed by Studio 80 Interior Design
…and a warmer tone with complementary brown ones.

(Image from Houzz.com, Designed by Tara Seawright)
This is an idea for renters or those who prefer clean white walls; you can still incorporate those bright colors!

2. Eclectic Decor

(Image from Houzz.com, Designed by Nirmada Interior Architectural Design)
You can display eclectically-themed wall art…

(Image from Houzz.com, Designed by Elizabeth Gordon)
…OR go big and cover all the walls with a favorite print…

(Image from Houzz.com, Designed by Carolina V. Gentry, RID)
OR use unconventional pieces for powder room staples, paired with muted yet eccentric designs, like the wallpaper here.

3. Structural Whimsy

(Image from Houzz.com, Designed by Fivedot Design Build)
I just love this natural wood counter space and the mod shape of the sink basin.

(Image from Houzz.com, Designed by Jane Kim Design)
This is a beautiful use of classic pieces in an industrialized setting.

(Image from Houzz.com, Designed by Dan Joseph Architects)
And some more natural wood!

See? You don’t necessarily have to paint or hang wall paper or expose your brick walls to establish an eclectic spirit in your bathroom, though all of those things are great ideas if you’re ready for a more drastic change. Here are a few more pictures I couldn’t quite categorize, but are lovely nonetheless!

(Image from Houzz.com, Designed by Melanie Stephens)

(Image from Houzz.com, Designed by Dana Gordon + Roy Gordon Architecture Studio)

(Image from Houzz.com, Designed by Eric Aust Architect)

For more whimsical powder room inspiration, check out our board on Pinterest!

If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow and the clutter to go, contact Patsy Overton Interiors. 770-843-2307 Accredited, Licensed, Insured.

Filed Under: Decorating, Decorating Tips, Pinterest, Redesign, Uncategorized, Updating Your Home | Tagged: Tagged With: Atlanta decorating, bronze fixtures, dated bathrooms, Pinterest, redesign, updating

Decorating: Wall Hangings

Posted by Mallory on April 13, 2013 Leave a Comment

A couple of months ago, a friend of mine was telling me about how she had spent her weekend moving. “We started unpacking at 6 a.m. on Saturday, and everything is completely done”, she said. “My drawers are organized and my pictures are hung”. For anyone who has ever moved, that is indeed a picture of total completion! If you are reading this and you’ve got a stack of frames or canvases leaned up against a wall somewhere, I am here to tell you, specifically…it’s not as scary or daunting as it seems!

I recently hung all of the pictures (well, not all, but a great number of them) in our house, and it did take me some time, but the end result is SO worth it! And not having that on my mental to-do list is pretty great, too. Part of what took me so long is that I had to decide what pictures to hang, and then frame (and in some cases, mat) them. So for those of you who really are beginning from square one like I did, I’m telling you, it’s possible.

Here’s how mine turned out:

Now, I realize that everyone out there doesn’t want a collage like this, and that’s fine. There are TONS of great ideas that I’ve picked up and pinned on our DIY: Wall Hangings board for how to design gallery walls, templates, shortcuts to making the nailing/drilling process quicker, plus things you can put together to actually hang up for those of you kindred spirit square-oners out there. I also did these:

and finally, the loner:

With a single-picture hanging, I just eyeball it to the height and wall-centered place that I want it to be. Same with the collage – I usually lay them out on the ground and then do as similar a version on the wall as possible. I also used some tricks from Pinterest: namely the painter’s tape nail-distance measuring trick. Even if you are looking for more certainty an precision, Pinterest is the place to go! There are so many great tutorials to be found, and not just for hanging stuff!

If I haven’t convinced you that you can do this yourself, as always, you can bring in a professional!
If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow and the clutter to go, contact Patsy Overton Interiors. 770-843-2307 Accredited, Licensed, Insured.

Filed Under: Decorating, Decorating Tips, Updating Your Home | Tagged: Tagged With: Atlanta decorating, DIY, Pinterest

Redesign: Maximizing Your Potential

Posted by Mallory on February 22, 2013 Leave a Comment

Have you ever heard the expression, “the cheapest car you can buy is the one you already drive”? Of course you have, if you’re from the land of idiomatic dialect i.e. the South! I know decorating your home isn’t nearly the same investment as paying for a car (except perhaps in some cases), but, it is always cheaper to use what you’ve already got. I know it’s not within everyone’s skill set to do major projects like refurbishing a piece of furniture or envisioning a new purpose for something, be it a stray ottoman or a five-piece bedroom set. But there are many ways to approach redesign, so before anyone starts to despair, let me offer these three simple ideas that will help you begin maximizing the potential of the things you already own:

1. Take it little by little. I have a theory that if you obtain several new things at once, there is less time to appreciate their newness individually. Same is true of projects. Allow yourself the joy of appreciating one small change at a time. Try it! If it doesn’t work, I’ll downgrade my theory to an idea.

2. Ask yourself if you really NEED it. If you’re losing your head over finding a use for a piece that you have, but don’t use and don’t have a use for, stop! Donate it or sell it on Craigslist. You’ll buy yourself a little free time, and maybe even make a dime doing it. Usually, you have to sacrifice one of those for the other, so i’d call it a win-win.

3. If you do need it – or you don’t, but you want it – and you are completely at a loss, what else can you do but call a professional? Vision isn’t a gift that everyone has, and that’s where POI can help.

P.S. For all you WSB Radio fans of the Home Fix it Show, make sure you tune in this Saturday, 2.23, to hear our very own Patsy Overton on air!!

Here are some redesign potentials in my dining room – check back in the next couple of weeks to see what they turn into!

this is a BEAUTIFUL headboard that my husband made for me when we were dating. I want to turn it into a wall hanging...

this is a BEAUTIFUL headboard that my husband John made for me when we were dating. I want to turn it into a wall hanging…

…and this is a side-of-the-road find that got me through a few years in college…as you can see, it needs a drawer fix and some paint.

here’s the room as a whole to give you an idea of the scale…hopefully it will look quite different in the near future!

Patsy Overton Interiors. 770-843-2307 Accredited, Licensed, Insured.

Filed Under: Decorating Tips, Featured Project, Redesign, Uncategorized, Updating Your Home | Tagged: Tagged With: Atlanta redesigner, consultations, redesign

Wall Decor: Mirrors

Posted by Mallory on February 16, 2013 Leave a Comment

When in doubt…fill your empty wall with a mirror! Not only can mirrors amplify a small space, they reflect light, and they are a clean, neutralizing alternative to a colorful art piece. If you are trying to complete a room that already has a lot of color (because, last i checked, many rooms have four walls, not just one to decorate!) a mirror is designer-approved solution. Let’s think outside the box, here – because mirrors come in all shapes and sizes; you have your sculptural or iconic mirrors:

source: Sunday Sisters

…as well as the simpler ones that are perfect for clustering.

source: Practical Enrichment

If you want to create your own decorative mirror for your wall, you can do that too! I am in the middle of a mirror project myself. I would highly recommend following directions that you can find here.

Source: Cottage Love

I am in the middle of assembling a mirror to hang over our mantle…but I won’t even tell you how I’ve gone about it. Let’s just say there have been some roadblocks, and my mirror is currently decorating my living room floor.

As always, if you hit a roadblock & need professional help, call Patsy – she can handle a little redesign or home staging, any day! (If you botch a DIY project, however – sorry, friend, you’re on your own!)

If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow and the clutter to go, contact Patsy Overton Interiors. 770-843-2307 Accredited, Licensed, Insured.

Filed Under: Decorating Tips, DIY Tips, Household Tips, Pinterest, Redesign, Uncategorized, Updating Your Home | Tagged: Tagged With: mirrors, redesign, wall decor solutions

How To Get Rid Of Leftover Paint

Posted by Patsy on June 19, 2012 Leave a Comment

As an Atlanta color consultant who is always working with clients in the midst of painting projects in their home, it’s great to have some helpful household tips to pass along. This one has to do with getting rid of leftover paint.

Do any of you have a shelf in your storage area or garage that looks like this?

Shelves full of leftover paint

Yep, it’s full of leftover paint. (BTW, you can breathe a sigh of relief. The gas can is empty!)

For the past two years we have been in the process of updating our home to put it on the market. (Yes, I know it shouldn’t take that long, but there have been extenuating circumstances. More on that another day.) Currently, Bill, the handyman who has done everything for us over the years from painting inside to painting outside to redoing our deck to building cabinets and shelving to… well, you get the picture, is finishing up with the inside painting. In Phase I we started with the bathrooms, stripping wallpaper, priming, then painting them. Next Bill painted the foyer, LR, DR, breakfast, family room, and another bathroom. In Phase II, which took place this spring, Bill came back to paint my home office, guest BR, bonus room and my son’s basement BR. All that to say, I’ve got lots of half used cans of leftover paint that I don’t know what to do with. How do I get rid of it?

a bag of cat litter Kitty litter to the rescue! (Actually, it’s an off-brand ’cause I’m cheap.)

Here’s what I learned from Bill. Take a cup or two of cat litter, pour it into the can of leftover paint and let it sit for a day or two while the cat litter absorbs the paint. When all the paint is absorbed, you can toss the can. Isn’t that great! Today is the day I’ll be removing the old cans of leftover paint and replacing them with new cans of leftover paint. Isn’t it exciting? I hope I’ve got enough cat litter.

Stay tuned for more helpful household tips. In the meantime, go buy some kitty litter and start hardening that leftover paint.

If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow and the clutter to go, call Patsy Overton Interiors. 770-843-2307 Accredited, Licensed, Insured

Filed Under: Household Tips, Updating Your Home | Tagged: Tagged With: Atlanta color consultant, cat litter, household tips, leftover paint, updating your home

Can’t Decide On Paint Colors? You’re Not Alone

Posted by Patsy on March 19, 2012 Leave a Comment

Last weekend I met with the sweetest couple. They had just purchased a new home and were looking to put their own stamp on it. The problem? They couldn’t make a decision on a color palette. As I walked into the family room and glanced at the wall, I had to smile. Here is what I saw:

Family Room

Please notice the seven different color samples painted on the wall. As an Atlanta color consultant I see this sort of thing on a regular (almost daily) basis. I asked, “Do you mind if I take a few photos and post a blog on your color samplings?” The homeowner replied, “Oh, you’ll have lots of photo ops in this home. Feel free!” She was right. I had hit the jackpot. The family room was just the beginning.

Sun Porch

I can’t tell you how often I go into homes and see an array of paint colors sampled on the walls.

color samples painted on the foyer walls

Foyer with Confused Doggie

Notice the poor little “cone-head” doggie. He had an injury on his leg. “Mom & dad” had to put him in a cone to prevent him from aggravating the wound. I think even he is confused by all the colors on the walls.

Dining Room

Here is what normally happens. The homeowners decide to paint. They hire a painter. The painter hands them a fan deck and says, “Let me know when you’ve decided which colors you want to use.” (The painters have learned NOT to get involved in helping their clients make color selections. It is a tedious process than can eat up way too much of their time — plus, they don’t want to be held responsible.) So the homeowners start pouring over the fan deck. They see some things they “think” they like, then start buying samples of the colors to throw on the walls. The more they put up, the more confused they become. Finally, they throw up their hands and declare, “We don’t know what we are doing. Where can we find an Atlanta color consultant? We need professional help!”

Master Bedroom

The main problem I’ve found is that people simply don’t know where to start in making their selections. In this case, we began in the kitchen working from the existing flooring and tile which was not going to change. From there, we methodically worked our way from room to room making sure we were creating a good flow of color. When I go back to help with the decorating, I will take “after” photos and post them for you.

I want to thank these homeowners for letting me share photos of their home to make a point. If you can’t decide which paint colors to use, call Patsy Overton Interiors BEFORE you spend a fortune on sample cans of paint. A recent client said, “For what I spent on sample cans, I could’ve paid your fee!” That’s the idea.

If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow and the clutter to go, call Patsy Overton Interiors. 770-843-2307 Accredited, Licensed, Insured.

Filed Under: All About Color, Color Consultations, Selecting Paint Colors, Updating Your Home | Tagged: Tagged With: Atlanta color consultant, color consultation, color palette, fan deck, paint colors

Atlanta Home Staging “Must Do” List

Posted by Patsy on February 27, 2012 4 Comments

Since the selling season is right around the corner, I’m getting lots of Atlanta home staging calls. As a result, I’d like to share with you the four main things you should do get your home “market ready.”

First, a fresh coat of paint is a necessity. If your walls are covered with dated wallpaper, get rid of it. If they are colorful, neutralize them. When thinking about what you need to do to your home, always think about what most people will be attracted to. While your tangerine walls may be beautiful and right on trend, most people will not want them. Shown below is a bedroom that was painted for selling. I selected Sherwin-Williams 6197 “Aloof Gray.” (If you would like to see more photos of this beautiful Atlanta home that was staged a couple of weeks ago, click here.)

master bedroom painted in Sherwin-Williams Aloof Gray, #6197

Freshly Painted Master Bedroom - SW6197 "Aloof Gray"

Second, take a good look at your flooring. If the carpet is worn, nasty, or in a ghastly color like blue or hunter green, have it replaced. If it is dirty, have it professionally cleaned. If it just needs spot cleaning, I highly recommend Spot Shot or Krud Kutter. Both products are true miracle workers.

Third, remove any dated window treatments. Notice I didn’t say they need to be replaced — just remove the old ones. There is nothing like dated window treatments that screams “so ten years ago” to a prospective buyer. Yes, I have custom window treatments in my own home and know how expensive they can be, but if they are dated and past their prime they need to come down. Shown below is a staged family room with no fabric on the windows. See how nice they look! Even if they had simple blinds instead of the plantation shutters, they would still look fresh and clean.

staged family room by Patsy Overton Interiors

No Dated Window Treatments

Fourth, update tired lighting and bathroom fixtures. Pictured below are before & after shots of an updated basement bathroom. Notice the dated countertops are still there, but what a difference regardless! If you were a buyer, which bathroom would you be more drawn to?

dated bathroom which badly needs to be updated

Dated Bathroom - ugh!

This bathroom has updated lighting, fixtures and the ugly wallpaper removed.

Updated Bathroom - much more appealing!

There’s lots more to share about how to get your home ready for the spring selling season, but the things I’ve listed above are a MUST! Please don’t neglect them.

If you want to sell your Atlanta home, then staging it is no longer an option but a necessity. Gone are the days when you could just have your real estate agent stick a sign in the front yard and wait for the offers to roll in. Call today to schedule your home staging consultation to prepare your home for the spring market. We stage both vacant and occupied properties.

If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow and the clutter to go, call Patsy Overton Interiors. 770-847-2307 Accredited, Licensed, Insured.

Filed Under: Home Staging, Home Staging Tips, Staging Before & Afters, Updating Your Home | Tagged: Tagged With: Atlanta home staging, decluttering, home staging consultation, updating

What’s In an Entrance?

Posted by Patsy on January 18, 2012 Leave a Comment

Being an Atlanta home stager and decorator, I’m in a lot of homes. One thing I notice again and again is that many homeowners neglect to make a great first impression. When someone pops through your front door, what do they see? That first impression is crucial for setting the visual tone of your home.

A couple of years ago I staged a beautiful Alpharetta home. Shown below is the “before” shot of the foyer:

Foyer - before

This was a very large foyer with a spectacular star inlay in the center of the floor, which I didn’t want to cover up; but the eye needed a place to rest and something to focus on. Here is the “after” shot:

Foyer - after

Although this was a home staging job, this is the perfect example of redesign work. The space was actually empty when I got there, unlike what you see in the first photo above. I found the glass-top table in the living room, the arrangement in the upstairs hallway, the mirror in a secondary bedroom and the chair in the breakfast area. What a difference this made in giving a great first impression of the home!

If you are decorating your home for your own pleasure or staging it to sell, don’t neglect the foyer. A great first impression is crucial! Don’t know where to begin? Then call Patsy, your Atlanta home staging, decorating and redesign expert for help! 770-843-2307

If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow and the clutter to go, call Patsy Overton Interiors. 770-843-2307 Accredited, Licensed, Insured.

Color never sleeps.

Filed Under: Decorating, Home Staging, Redesign, Updating Your Home | Tagged: Tagged With: Atlanta decorating and home staging, Atlanta decorator, Atlanta home stager, first impressions, redesign

Beware of Cast-off Color

Posted by Patsy on November 28, 2011 12 Comments

For several years now I’ve been trying to talk my husband into moving. He’s coming around, but it’s definitely a slow process. In the meantime, I began updating our home a couple of years ago. (Yes, Atlanta home stagers and decorators end up in the same trap as our clients — we get caught in a time warp.) To illustrate a point relating to the title of this blog post, take a look at a few “before” shots of our master bathroom.

Master Bath - before

Master Bath – before

Okay, as soon as the shock wears off, please take a look at the floor tiles in the above photo. Once I decided which tile I wanted to use, I spent a good bit of time checking undertones making sure I had the right color. Since I am a professional color consultant, I knew what to look for — or so I thought. The tile I chose was what I term a “true neutral.” It didn’t seem to have a gray, yellow or greenish cast to it. Knowing I had checked it every way from Sunday, imagine my SHOCK when the tiles were installed and they had very strong PINK undertones!!! What on earth happened? For about half a day I was beating myself to death wondering how I could’ve made such a mistake to pick a tile with pink undertones.

Then it dawned on me.

The pink I was seeing was actually “cast-off color” from the red wallpaper. Of course! Why didn’t I think of that? I held my breath until the red wallpaper was gone, replaced by Sherwin-Williams “Latte” #6108. Sure enough, the pink glow slowly evaporated before my eyes and I was left with the nice neutral I thought I had selected to begin with. Whew!!!

Here are a few “after” shots:

Master Bath - after

Master Bath - after

Master Bath - after

So the moral of the story is this: beware of cast-off color. Until your existing color is removed or covered, the new colors will not read accurately. Always remember you must commit to your new color and see it through. Never make a judgment on your new hues and undertones until the existing color has been covered.

If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow and the clutter to go, contact Patsy Overton Interiors. 770-843-2307 Accredited, Licensed, Insured.

“If you think hiring a professional is expensive, try hiring an amateur.”

Filed Under: All About Color, Featured Project, Updating Your Home | Tagged: Tagged With: Atlanta decorating, Atlanta home stager, cast-off color, color consultant, professional color consultant

Paint Is Still Your Best Friend

Posted by Patsy on August 1, 2011 1 Comment

Whether you are updating or staging your Atlanta home, paint is still your best friend. It will forever give you the biggest bang for your buck.

A couple of months ago I was called on to provide home staging services in Cumming. The first step was a staging consultation with the homeowner and Realtor. Cindy (the homeowner) had already done a fine job of decluttering and the house was in great shape, but it still lacked a little updating to bring it current. Here is the before shot of the master bedroom:

Master Bedroom - before

As you can see, the room is painted yellow with blue and yellow bedding. While there is nothing wrong with this color scheme — especially if it appeals to you personally — it is not so much the “look of the day.” I love to use a soft green in the master bedroom for a calming effect and to set it off from the other neutrals in the main living spaces. Here, I recommended that they get new bedding and paint the walls “Grassland,” Sherwin-Williams #6163. Take a look:

Master Bedroom - after

While the painting was being done, I shopped for bedding and accessories. In addition to the new comforter set, we also added the scroll artwork above the bed, a white floral to the left and greenery to the right to soften the look. What a difference! Cindy decided right away she wanted to purchase the new accessories from me and announced she will be using “Grassland” in her new home.

Please keep in mind when you are staging or updating your home, paint is still your best friend; and by combining a fresh paint color with a few key accessories, you can have a new look.

This beautiful, spacious, well cared for home is at 1555 Blue Bird Way in Cumming. It boasts 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and is priced to sell at $450,000. For more information call the Sherry and Maria Team at 678-283-1710.

If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow, and the clutter to go, contact Patsy Overton Interiors. 770-843-2307 Accredited, Licensed, Insured.

Filed Under: All About Color, Home Staging, Home Staging Tips, Updating Your Home | Tagged: Tagged With: home staging Atlanta, staging consultation Cumming, updating

The Powder Room: Whimsical & Eclectic

Decorating: Wall Hangings

Redesign: Maximizing Your Potential

Wall Decor: Mirrors

How To Get Rid Of Leftover Paint

Can’t Decide On Paint Colors? You’re Not Alone

Atlanta Home Staging “Must Do” List

What’s In an Entrance?

Beware of Cast-off Color

Paint Is Still Your Best Friend

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