Creating!  It's what brings such pleasure and satisfaction, doesn't it?

Owning my own interior design business gives me plenty of opportunities to do just that, and it's always so much fun to fuse the wishes of my clients with my own vision to create unique pieces that function for the spaces in consideration.

For this particular project, I  collaborated with Rich Uhlrich,  talented craftsman and owner of a fabulous antiques and architectural salvage warehouse in downtown Cottonwood Falls, Ks. Rich and I met when we were working together on a bed and breakfast called 'Kate's Cottage'.  Rich was contracted to build the structure, and I got to have all of the fun decorating it!  From creating a color scheme to be used inside and out, to  choosing  flooring, wallcoverings and light fixtures, each design element was critical to bring Kate's Cottage to life!  We even designed the kitchen backsplash using vintage tin panels sourced from Rich's store, incorporating that same tin into a short partition on a center island that incorporated a range top and seating just opposite, flanked by swivel bar stools.

. The owner had a vision to paint the island a vibrant shade of blue called 'Grandmother's Sweater', that frankly I was not so sure of at the time!   But as I began to research layouts and color combinations, I soon realized that she was right in step with the 'color of the hour', as it was popping up as the color choice for both cabinets and islands trending at the time!

My client wished to use an old door that was found in an existing structure on the property where Kate's Cottage was built, so that became the inspiration for this unique headboard , the focal point and great conversation piece for the master suite.

The most fun was hunting through bits and pieces in Rich's store for just the right elements to form the structure !  From old porch posts to tin cornices and decorative moulding, we chose wood corner blocks for the finishing touches , with weathered paint in those very shades that ended up carrying the blue from the kitchen right on through! It was serendipity!

The little night stands were found at my sister's consignment shop, Home At Last, and were given new life with a couple coats of chalk paint and clear wax, buffed to a satiny finish.  The vintage lamps were found in an antique shop, the porcelain bases scattered with tiny bouquets of flowers in soft blues, pinks and greens.
A sturdy, quilted denim comforter by Ralph Lauren was the perfect choice for this room, providing luxurious comfort and the ability to stand up to frequent launderings.  Woven rag rugs in shades of blue and coral softened the (faux) wood flooring at each side of the bed, pulling out the coral in an upholstered chair and artwork on the walls. Wood blinds were chosen for the windows, with simple lace panels to soften the look.

The room came together so beautifully, and we were all so pleased to be able to incorporate elements of the past to create a one of a kind piece that became not only a work of art , but was sturdy enough to accomodate frequent overnight guests without being worse for the wear!

Mixing periods and styles is alot of fun, so take a cue from Rich and I, and hit your local thrift shops and architectural salvage to create rooms to live in and enjoy!  Happy creating!