Raise the Bar!

When I bought my current home six years ago, there were already features present that I couldn't change. Like this:

I mean the wood work is beautiful and all but the

 open arch portion mystified me until I happened upon those brown urns in a store in Connecticut.  For 90% off.  I'm kind of lucky like that. The bronze statue is one my son inherited, but he doesn't have room for yet.  Darn.

The cabinet below the arch was actually made to hold a TV, back when TV's were really deep.

That's a pretty cavernous hole!

And not attractive either!

As you can see, it not only had a pull out ledge for the TV, but also a shelf built into the top for the cable box or a DVD player - the house was built in 2003, after all. But you may have already noticed that this shelf is right next to the window in the corner of the room.  It is a terrible location for a TV!

Hmmmmm.  What to do........

First I added a little hanging chandelier to the back.

This light fixture came from my old house and used to hang behind my bed.

But it was kind of glaring when the lights were on.

So I added these little shades that I had for my chandelier at Christmas. Don't worry, it gets better looking.

Then I added the only thing that I purchased for this project.

These hanging wine glass racks from the Container Store fit perfectly on the DVD shelf.

By now you have guessed that I turned this eyesore into a BAR!!

I added a few wine glasses, some beverages and some accessories and VOILA!

That's an old desk mat that was in the cabinet underneath this one for some reason.  I thought it would be good to put the bottles on.  The tiny flowers were both gifts and I will always try to fit a flower in wherever I can! I used the bigger liquor bottles to hide the electrical outlets.

It's pretty cute with my pumpkin for Autumn.

And of course, he lights up!

And here is the view when you are sitting across the room. Ahhh, much better than a TV!

And Clarence the doggie really appreciates it.

Neighbors . . .

Now you see them. . . 

                Now you don't! 

Graber offers the Overture Shade featuring two layers of sheer fabric that work together to keep your space bright or block the light and even harmful UV rays.  The entire shade rolls up into the cassette headrail.  The clean airy design is just right for this new luxury townhome in downtown Leesburg.  Beautifully soft on their own,  or layered underneath a fabric window treatment. 

Small Town Life

I made a trip to my favorite hardware store for some last-minute supplies for a recent 

window treatment installation and couldn't resist taking this picure.    

I mean,  just look at all the years of  love and hard work and elbow grease 

that have made this cabinet so charming.  I love the drawers. 

 I love the labels.  I love the tools and gadgets that make our lives easier.   

But mostly, I love that this kind of store being run by helpful, honest folks still exists. 

Open since 1914,  Nichols Hardware in downtown Purcellville, Virginia 

still gives personalized attention and cares about its customers.   

Thank you,  Nichols.  

  

*Blog by Ruth, Director of Marketing for Antonia Korby Design.  

                    Helping clients with design 
                                       is our passion.
                   (and so is a clean desk.  But you'd never
                       know by looking.)

Dressing the Bed

Dressing 6 different beds last week (for more than one house) 

has us wondering how you like to dress your bed?   

Cozy? 

Comfy?      Glam?     Elegant? 

Grandma's vintage quilt?     

What can we offer that will make you rest better and feel equipped to energize through your day?  

In upcoming posts we will be discussing trends we are seeing.  Like a return to luxurious bedding, but with less - a lot less - pillows (We hear you gentlemen cheering!)

And what has happened to the bedskirt?

Stay tuned........

Time to get the cobwebs down?

  So maybe you didn't literally use spiderwebs as your    Halloween valance like we did,  

but is it time to TREAT yourself by dressing your windows?  

Our Arch Nemesis

Palladian Windows

                     gorgeous in their symmetry, deceptively difficult to dress.

Enter the PALLADIAN SHELF!  It holds the blind or shade when there is no existing support between the window and the arch.   It's a little tricky to measure for it,  but this brace is made of strong, lightweight material that can be used on palladian and other custom window shapes as well as unusually tall windows.   

And we know just the person to install it.

                               Simply gorgeous for the sunroom!                                

Palladian shelf, drapery hardware and woven wood shades by Graber (Pattern: Beachfront, color: Tidepool)

Beachfront is our most popular woven wood pattern.

Drapery panels by Kasmir Fabrics. 

Detail of Kasmir Fabric