Thursday, December 13, 2012

BABIES ROOM - BOY & GIRL TWINS

It's been a long time since my boys were babies... and this is the first time I've been asked to do a babies nursery.  What fun!


Originally the request was for gray and yellow. The twins are a boy and a girl - so it makes the room unisex.  However, I see it as a 'sweet' room for them both. 

You can shop some items on line.
http://www.mothercare.com.hk

GRAY AND YELLOW Color Pallette

 The dining room rug came into the room which helped ground the color palette.

I found these posters on Esty 
Make a glossy photo and frame it. 

FLOOR PLAN

Curtains should be window sill length with this arrangement so items can be placed under the window. 


BABY SOPHISTICATION

GRAYSON BEDDING on Baby Super Mall . com

Gray and yellow was very difficult to find - in the right tone and the right design - and in enough fabric available for the pair of crib sets. I searched  Wan Chai - Shenzhen - Ap Lei Chau and the USA. I gave up and went on line and found this. 

Blanket, bumper, skirt and 1 sheet - $307.69 each set/ $2418 hk
plus 20 % my commission. 
change pad cover:  $38.46

The customers crib sets are in a light camel wood color. So pairing it with a crib set with camel and gray made sense.  Everything is working together with the additional color. 

Sticking on the Curtain Valance and same gray stripe ticking on the pillows with yellow buttons. 

Remember your walls are white - not gray like the photo.  I think the dresser gray is too much in the room - It needs a pop - and repeat the carpet.

Add a antique dresser - to bring in the yellow.  Add glass knobs for some bling. 


BASE COLOR - THEN ANTIQUED!




The valance is in the same camel color and accented with a yellow ribbon to match the rug and the dresser. 
The gray linen curtains are lined and gathered 2.5 times to give them volume.  They would stop at the bottom of the window so you can house something underneath it like the bookcase.  




VICTORIAN IDEA

From Layla Grace I got the inspiration for the bedding.  The client likes contemporary - but has many items that are already Country French. 
I like the white mattress cover - easy to clean and bleach. 


I have the source for the white embroidered accent  (similar) - and then just an inexpensive cotton gray linen on the bottom.  What I have to know - is there enough room below the current bed designs to actually achieve this?

 The original thought of the 2 seater sofa will not fit. It's 55" wide. 

CHANGING TABLE DESIGN
42" wide x 20" deep x 36 - 40" high.  
The changing table is removable so it can be used as a dresser later on. 

I'm getting 2 quotes - to make out of plywood and veneer (it will probably be white) - and to make it out of solid wood for long term use - and paint it yellow with white Chinese artwork. 



This dresser sells for $3600 USA!  I think I can beat that.... omg. 

Whatever fabric we can find with the yellow and gray - repeat it on the bumper pillows, accent pillow and lamp shade.  This is on the gray cabinet between the beds. 

Do the curtains to the floor in a ribbed satin material. There is a very light shine.  Since all the other fabric is matte - this will bring whimsy, sophistication and interest.  To hide the hardware - we place a simple valance on top in a gray and white stripe piped in yellow. 


Thursday, December 6, 2012

THE BEGINNING OF A CABINET

Not every sideboard or tall cabinet starts out as a complete original.... you only see a finished product on the showroom floor.  

What you don't see are the pieces that went into it to create and accomplish an 'old' piece.  

Here's a finished piece.  ( SOLD.)

other examples



I've just received multiple photos that a factory is currently creating.
  Check this out... amazing.   
AVAILABLE  167  x 44 x 86  (66 x 17.5 x 34)
$6440 plus shipping
Below is what it looked like in the raw staged.  

------------------------------------

These are 'old' body styles that are rebuilt. 
They'll be sanded, painted, varnished and hardware added - and look very different.  The nice thing -  most of it still is 'old' wood.  

 1044

 1046

 1047

 1089
220 - 230cm x 45D x 88H (87 - 90" wide x 18" d x 34.7" H)
$8780


 1090

1093


I just popped this photo in here... it's a current request from a customer.  
To reproduce this with old wood is $ 6480



Dec 01 2012 Zhuhai Factory Finds

I had a small group last Saturday to Zhuhai.  A husband and wife and a single.  It was nice because the weather had cleared most of the day and we could meander everywhere. Not much was purchased - but they found what they were after - and we had another interesting day. 

While on the visits I'm also QCing items I have on order. The factory usually gets to a point and stops knowing that I'm showing.... and we discuss how to finish the piece. 

It's an exhausting day for all - me included - but each group makes make each trip different for me - and I feel fulfilled that I was able to bring a smile to their face. 

Here were some of my finds. 


This shabby little dresser is so cute.  Think of it painted, antiqued , stripped - very french. 
I'm remembering in my childhood when we placed our dial phones on these. 


This needs another coat of stain - but it has great simple lines. 

 Petite in size but very good storage space 


Now look at this photo - I mean really - this is where they do the manufacturing.  And you wonder why "I can't get everything exactly the way you want it" in your heads.  Everything is open to interpretation - but we get pretty close. 



Not everything is antique - here are examples of updated colors and styles. This cabinet was purchased.

















Does anyone have a kitchen - that needs an island?  This is so perfect - at 9 ft long and 36" high.  Of course it's not going to fit any elevator. The rustic wood on top is gorgeous. 


This is actually one of my favorite pieces.  It's been in the factory for years - tucked away in a dark corner.  They recently moved it to another dark corner. I was glad for that 'cause it would wait for me to purchase it.  But I really don't have room for it.  I could see this stripped down to the bare wood


A DINING ROOM TABLE - you never see these. 59 " x 29.5 x 30" high 


Here's another purchase - the pair of bedside tables.  The perfect size but not the perfect color.  For an additional minimal fee - they are being stripped and repainted the red color they're suppose to be.  Right now they are too wine. 


 Oh No - another dining room table! 
 79 x 37.5 x 31

Such a show piece.  


Check out this great Farm Table -