February 25, 2015

VINTAGE TV BAR


I'm doing this super fun commercial project for an Entertainment Company called Rock With U, located right outside of Miami FL.  I've shared a few of the happenings with you thus far, and today I'm going to update you about the concept for a statement piece in the lobby. 




In the lobby of RWU I was determined to use a mixture of both vintage & modern pieces. {Which if you speak to many it’s the same thing, but we’ll get to that later} As it’s an entertainment company I really wanted to create both pieces of interest as well as pieces which were in line with the personality & character of RWU.

From the inception of the project I new I was going to have a TV BAR in the lobby. But I wasn’t exactly sure how I was going to go about this task as purchasing a TV BAR can be pretty expensive and I wasn’t sure exactly how far the project budget would lead us, but as always we figured it out, join me on the journey of the TV BAR.

My design team & I started re-searching the many types of TV Bars and started putting our heads together of exactly how we wanted the construct & style of the television to be.  These are the inspiration images we started to work with.




 What to consider when making a vintage TV Bar:
Size
Color
Style
Price
Electrical Pieces Removed 

I finally found a TV, which would work. It was a {type of TV} and I had to ask my vendor to gut the interior, as I didn’t want to pay for shipping for weight I had no use for. Other than that this TV was the style, height and size I wanted, it was aged & very authentic to it’s time but not too worn down or dilapidated. The TV dial was still attached & all inscriptions & labels were still in place. This was truly the piece I needed.



Now I had further creative decisions to make, I didn’t know how much I wanted to alter the TV, but I knew it needed a bit more character to it. We started doing some sketches to try and figure out how we can liven up the TV to give more personality once it's the completed TV BAR. 

Phase 1 





 Phase 2 
Phase 3
 We took some left over scraps of wood and painted it an eggplant color then inserted it at the back of the TV  {The contractor added a bit of black to make our deep purple color even deeper.}
Paint Color: BEHR LANTANA 680D-6



I then decided to line the bottom of the TV with faux grass to add some texture. This is the same faux grass we put on the ceiling of the lounge, {stay tuned for the details of that project} once completed I really loved how it looked. This was exactly the oomph that was needed.



I then added the liquor bottles inside and it truly was exactly what the TV Bar needed. It was a subtle touch, but very needed for a bit of flavor & pizazz. 



Talk about a "vintage" look.

We added a marquee “BAR” sign above to add a disco vibe and the look was simply amazing. I started styling the top of the TV Bar with glass wear and liquor bottles to get a feel of what may look best. 

 We are still working on adding lighting inside the bar as well as a concealing the wires, but all in all, the TV Bar turned out to be something well worth the hunt & headache. 
Don't worry folks, it's not done yet. Stay stunned for the professional shots of the TV Bar, as well as the completion of the RWU Lobby. This is just 1 gem in this room. Once the lobby is completed, it's definitely going to be something very different from anything you have seen. 





Did you like this project? Want to see more of the happenings 
of this commercial project? No problem, check out the posts below: 






To see decor tips for the home check out these posts below:





The fun doesn't have to STOP here folks.


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February 11, 2015

5 FUNDAMENTALS FOR ROMANTIC BEDROOM {ALL YEAR LONG}







As a single woman I realize how important it is to have a room, which can give you a romantic feel at times. Décor gives back to you what you put in to it. Each room in the home can give you a feeling and ambiance; in fact rooms can give you multiple feelings and ambiances. It’s all on how you put it together. I’m going to share a few things you can do to your bedroom to maintain a romantic feeling all year long. If you are going through a rough time, such as a divorce, break-up, lost of job, illness lost of loved one or even depression creating a room of romance and sensuality can help improve your spirits and emotional state.




1. LINENS & SHEETS

Your bed anchors your bedroom the same way a couch anchors a living room. Your linens solidify the personality & charisma your bed will embody. What you also need to know is your linens and bed sheets have direct contact you your body therefor igniting your sense of feelings of touch. 

Personal Story Time: Silk sheets can be very annoying. As embracing, as it is to admit, I used to have a set and they were so inconvenient and annoying as ever. I was sliding all over the place and it’s very hard to make the bed when the sheets take on this snake like life of it's own constantly slithering around and moving. It was truly a HOT MESS! Moral of that story----> Leave silk sheets out of your bedroom. Ugh! 

Stick to a a lovely cotton with a thread count suitable for your bodies needs. Start with this question, "What makes me feel sexual & sensual when sleeping?" for some people that may be a very thick cotton blend simulating the feel of being snuggled and hugged by a handsome lover/partner. Or it may be a light breathable blend which allows your body to feel traces of the wind from a summer breeze or in some cases {an AC vent} but either way it's a breeze! Understanding what your body feels and desires is what's going to guide you towards the correct style & make of bed sheets for you. 






2. PILLOWS 
I love the flexibility of pillows. You do not have to commit to pillows as you do with lighting and furniture. The lack of commitment {yes, I have commitment issues, but that's a story for another day & another blog post} also allows you to experiment and enjoy exploring different samples of SEXY & ROMANTIC patterns or textures.  A few examples of romantic pillows would be soft textures; animal prints are still erotic in nature. {no pun intended} Believe it or not metallic can have provide a romantic, sensual feel by adding an element of glamour to the bedroom. 

How do you figure out what kind of throw pillow you should use for you bedroom to give you that extra boom, sexy, sensual factor? here's how I do it.

 I start with the "extreme" element which represents a form of sexuality, sensuality, glamour, intimacy etc. What ever that element is for you bottle it up in a throw pillow. If leopard print is your thing, it turns you on, or feels sensual or erotic to you but you have a fear of using it as a wallpaper, rug or bedsheets wrap it up in a pillow. A dash of leopard can lend a strong sense of sensuality & romance to a space. 





Here is a great source for animal print throw pillows, 
hand made in the USA via ETSY.





3. LIGHTING
They’re two aspects of lighting to pay attention to when trying to create sexy & romantic décor. The style of your light fixture and the bulbs can help to create a more sensual, relaxing & vulnerable dynamic to your mood as well as the outlook on yourself and your love life. Below are a few chandeliers styles to consider. Using, industrial style lighting is a great way to add a touch masculinity to your room , and HELLO ladies!!!!! After all, masculinity is one of the KEY ingredients to romance & sensuality isn't it? 











~READING LIGHTS ~
I've added two reading lamps which I became obsessed with. Pairing a set of flowers, a good read with an awesome candle is just what's needed on a night stand for a touch of romance & relaxation. 









4. SCENTS & CANDLES
This seems so obvious but so many people truly forget the power behind scents. Don’t under estimate what scents can do for your senses and mood. Some of my favorite candles are made by Ralph Lauren & Calvin Klein. Their candles are very potent, strong yet not offensive. I also take the left over wax from the candles and burn it in an oil burner. Always try to keep candles & scents in your home the same way many ensure they always have milk or eggs. It should be a staple. It’s a very easy way to ignite feelings of sensuality & relaxation. 


This Ralph Lauren candle is called "Jamaica" carrying a lovely sent of the Caribbean.


Calvin Klein has a lovely selection of frangrances, some of my favorites is "Leaf" & "Meadow"




Pillar candles last long and when you pair them up with a glass hurricane or glass vase, the combination of light meeting glass provides a lovely crystalized reflective moment which can only enhance a romantic energy in a bedroom.

Candles in a bottle allows you to play around with different heights and grant you the opportunity to create a cool candle light vignette in the fireplace.


5. ART WORK

Paint is to our walls what a dress is to your body. Art is to your walls what buttons, belts & ties are to a dress. It gives it a specific personality and style. The art you choose for your walls can lend a very romantic, sensual & provocative energy to you room. You want to first figure out what your room needs. Does your room need art, which is more demure, or very suggestive style of art or does your room need something a bit more naturally sensual? You have to know who you are & what makes you feel sensual and romantic.  It will be different for everyone, so here is how you can figure that out. Do an inventory of your daily happenings. What aspects of life do you find sensual, erotic, romantic & sexy. Is it a field of tulips? Image of a couple walking the streets of Paris holding hands or a Cuban couple dancing salsa on a hot summer night in Havana? Try to draw from the images accumulated in your mind over the years. Think of experiences you may have had, movies you watched, stories you were told, or simple desires and romantic goals you have fro yourself. If a scene in the movie Casino reminds you of romance then use it. Romance is as you design it. Below I have attached images I consider sexy & sensual. 



I really love this photo, as a professional dancer I really really like how it appears as if she is dancing sensually in a bar, this photo really reminds me of myself. The professional dancer in me loves this photo as well. 


Nothing like a ballerina doing a handstand in point shoes. Again the combination of strength and sensuality of a woman makes me feel empowered as a woman and empowerment is always sexy! 


 The strength in the charcoal black brush stroke accompanied by the femininity and of her lips is perfect reflection of the essence of a woman.

 I think this image is self explanatory, right? 


The afro/hair in this painting is definitely strong & sensual. 
LOVE LOVE this image. 


Ladies, I have now shared with you the key elements I use to add romance to my bedroom and the bedrooms of my clients. Remember these are not practices solely reserved for the month of February. I would love to hear what YOU do to add romance to your bedroom and to your life! Let me know in the comments section below. 

 Feel as if you need further help with adding romance to your bedroom? Take a look at my SERVICES & book a residential design consultation HERE.

WORK WITH YOUR PARTNER
Tired of arguing with your Hubby about decorating decisions? I have the answer to help the two of you STOP disagreeing & START decorating. 
Check out my new BONNIE & CLYDE service. 


HIS & HERS DECORATING GUIDE
Check out our His& Hers decorating it will alows you to STOP arguing and start decorating.



ADD ROMANCE IN YOUR LIFE
You don't have a partner? Let's discuss why & how we can get you one. If you feel as if you are struggling to add romance in your life, no problem, I'm here for you! Check out my Life Styling service and book a complimentary consultation today and lets get talking about life changes you can make to allow more ROMANCE in your already awesome LIFE. 







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