Lake House Finale….finally!

Well,  I’m back to the world of blogging after a couple of weeks absence.  With re-doing Perfect Home after Christmas, and setting up Perfect Prom for my !!! 32nd YEAR !!!  of dressing girls for their dances, I can finally take the time to scribble out a few lines on  my blog.  New Year’s Resolution…. to write a post at least once (hopefully twice) a week.  Let’s see how I do!

I hope you remember the lake house project I worked on last year.  If not, or if you are new to my blog, check the archives listed on the right side for the two earlier  posts  on the first and second floors .  Now for the third, and final, floor.  Think a three story lake house is big enough?

This floor has the least dramatic transformation.  No major remodeling except for one bedroom where cabinetry was removed.    This is the floor reserved for grandchildren and guests.  We just spruced up a bit with new bedding, paint and a few accessories.  Still it made a big impact without a big hit to the budget.  Enjoy!

 

One of the guest bedrooms before…

And after….  with the addition of new bedding, lamp and prints over the bed.  We used an existing side table.  Just a few simple touches, but much more pulled together.

Second guest bedroom before….

And after… Unfortunately, this photo is a bit dark, but this room really turned out well.  After a struggle, and a couple of misses, I finally found this black and white bedding which really pulled the look together. The matching lamps on each side of the bed were perfect!  And we didn’t even paint this room.  A real transformation on just a few dollars.

Uh-Oh, unmade bed… my client is going to kill me for showing this!

And the final guest suite.  We reused this bed in another bedroom and I ordered the black and white headboard seen below.

So sharp and crisp for a teen age boys bedroom.  I wish you could see this bed in person.  It has an incredible finish and is really substantial.  I order from this company often for my projects.  They have a great look at reasonable prices.  I have several pieces coming from them for Perfect Home in the next few weeks.

This is the simple cornice I did for this guest suite and bath.  A great look for the lake.  A boat bookcase and nautical accessories provided the finishing touches for this room. 

Ta-Da!  The final room!  This is a sitting room off the bedroom with lots of space for the grandchildren to play video games and hang out.  Hence, the reason for no pictures of the rest of the room!  Trust me, they are already making good use of this room.

So there you have it, the completed Lake House Project.  I was truly blessed to have this beautiful home to work on last year.  My client was a dream to work with.  It is so nice to start a job with a “client” and end with a new friend. 

I know times are tough and not everyone is lucky enough to be able to do a major renovation on their home.   I deeply appreciate any and all projects I work on… large and small!  Actually, the smaller projects are a wonderful source of the instant gratification I love!

If you like what you see in my work on this, or any before and afters I will post in the future, please call me at Perfect Home.  I am adding to my design resource library and have several new lines I will be sharing with you soon. A really beautiful accent furniture portfolio is on the way, can’t wait to show you!   I truly love what I do… and would love to work with you in creating your own “Perfect Home”.

Reesa

A Tour of Danny’s Home at Christmas

I felt it might be a fun way to start the new year with a look back…. all the way back to Christmas!!  You just thought you were ready for Christmas to be over  for another year.  Well, that was before you had a chance to tour Danny Carter’s home fully decked out for the holidays.

I toyed with the idea of calling this post either  “Danny’s Crazy Christmas House” or “Crazy Danny’s Christmas House”.  If any of you know Danny, then you know either would have been appropriate.  For those of you who don’t know Danny Carter, he is the floral designer who helps me create Perfect Home’s Christmas every year, as well as store displays and our floral arrangements.  Danny also helps me with design installations and works independently as a designer.  He is so talented, has a huge heart, and is craaaaaazzy, as anyone who knows him can attest!!!

Danny loves Christmas.  Even after decorating clients homes for the holidays, he will go home at night and do what he calls his  *create-in’ * for his own home.  Be forewarned… this is not your Mama’s Christmas decorating.  No nice red and green shiny ornaments, no fragrant  evergreen wreaths, no  traditional nativity scenes.   Nooooo, not our Danny!

And so, I welcome all of you to Danny’s Annual Christmas Party.

You are greeted as you enter with a fireplace and hearth festooned with jet black ornaments, an oversized vessel and a nice little zebra stocking.  Danny would never expect Santa to leave his lumps of coal in a needlepoint stocking with santa and snowflakes!

Nothing like an oversized sequined slipper to say Christmas!

This upside down tree dripping with vines, metallic corkscrew grasses, feathers and icicles, was the talk of the party!  Only Danny!

The breakfast room done up in shades of turquoise, black and silver. Part Mardi Gras… part Vegas with all the feathers! This was actually my favorite room.

Love the table settings…

 

but the chandelier is my absolutely  my fave!  It’s a very Vegas Christmas.

Just a little tree for the master bedroom.

What??  Your master bedroom doesn’t look like this???

 

Just a peek at the master bath.

The guest bath.

Danny’s special tree in memory of his Mom who passed away two years ago on Christmas Eve.  This tree is filled with her special ornaments. 

Another room…. another tree!

Just had to show you this bed with it’s bedazzle spiral light hanging over.  How would you like to wake up with that in your eyes every morning!

 

My clients and friends, Vanessa and Katrina, enjoying the party.  The silver chargers on the wall are a new addition this year.  Very understated for our Danny.

April, who works at Perfect Home, and her daughter Meredith are Danny’s neighbors and had to see the show!

My mom, her  best friend (my other mother), her neighbor and my aunt, all came to see what Danny had cooked up for another crazy Christmas. 

And the Man himself… Danny Carter.  As over the top and flamboyant as Danny’s decorating is in his own home, he actually does very dramatic, but beautiful design work for his clients.

I know it will be hard for you to believe, but I have been to several of Danny’s Christmas open houses, and this one showed real restraint (a word not always associated with Danny) compared to parties of years past.  Just imagine a purple and gold dining room, a bathroom with FIVE trees in it, and chili pepper lights that bathed the ceiling of the kitchen.  Oh, we can’t forget the collection of stuffed monkeys wearing oversized diamond rings!!!  Don’t believe it??  I have pictures to prove it!   Truly, a one of a kind  colorful character!

I hope you have enjoyed this virtual tour of a not so traditional Christmas.  Upside down tree anyone???

Reesa

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Oh, What a Year!

Here we are.  2009 is almost a memory now, and oh, what memories we will all have of the past year.  What a ride! 

Since we all know the past year has been a challenging one, I thought I would take a few minutes to reflect on my lessons of 2009.  As many of you know, I have been in business since 1978.  First as The Wedding Belle, and for the past seven years both as Perfect Home, and my seasonal store, Perfect Prom.  I have seen lean years and lush years, but never had a year where I learned as much as the past year.  It’s amazing how much you can still learn, even when you have been around the old “ business block” as long as I have.  It’s amazing how a little common sense and creativity can see you through those lean days.  It’s amazing how much a recession will make you up your game. 

Never one to be at the forefront of  technology, this was the year I embraced  the internet!  First with email newsletters, then this blog and now on facebook.  Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks!  I have really enjoyed finding new ways to connect with customers and  trying my hand at writing which I have always loved.  I hope all of you are enjoying my humble efforts. I plan more posts on design tips and decorating ideas, before and after pictures and lots of yummy interiors “ eye candy.”  I may even do quick design tips on my facebook page.  What do you think?   Please leave me a comment on my blog (by clicking on the comment button at the end of this post) or email me if you like this direction  and add any ideas or thoughts you may have for future posts.  I love feedback!

I know this has been a difficult year for many of us and I just want to take this chance to thank all of my wonderful customers for being so loyal this year.  We may be a bit battle scarred after all the bad news of 2009, but Perfect Home is still standing… and standing strong!  And that is thanks to all of you! 

I have been so blessed this year with many faithful customers who still found a few extra dollars to perk up their homes.  A new lamp here, a pretty painting there, it all makes our homes and our lives a little richer.  You know, when it gets scary “out there” it’s nice to have a gracious home to comfort us.  Thanks for allowing me to add a little something  to your homes this year.

I especially want to thank all my design clients (you know who you are)  for the chance to work on your projects.  From a piece of furniture, painting, or throw pillow…to their entire home (or in one case, homes…bless you Vanessa!)  I have loved every minute of it all!  You have truly helped me weather the storm.  Thank you!

These last few weeks so many of you have stopped by Perfect Home for the “perfect” gift or ornaments for your friends and family.  Even though I only see some of you this time of year, I really appreciate every one of you.  Thank you  Christmas shoppers!

And last, but not least.. Thanks to my crew!  Sonia,Mandy and Paul who make window treatment magic.  April who keeps me organized and my store  in shape.  Jill who keeps all those prom girls happy and reaches the tops of displays that I can’t even touch.  Derrell who makes deliveries and lunch runs. Fuad, my fella, who’s optimism and encouragement keeps me going.  And of course, my Mom who doesn’t work many days now, but when she’s here she brings a smile to everyone’s face and can still outsell me!  Couldn’t do it without you… Thanks!

And now on to 2010… a new decade!  I don’t know about all of you, but I can’t wait to turn the page on a new year.  I’ve always been a glass half full kind of girl, but I really feel GOOD about the coming year.  Not that all the bad times will vanish overnight, but it’s time for some good news!  Time for a fresh beginning… time to hit the reset button! 

I have big plans for Perfect Home in 2010.  I’m ending the year with a “RING UP THE OLD, BRING IN THE NEW” SALE  and will be going to market mid January for all kinds of new goodies.  Of course, Perfect Prom will open again in January thru April for year 32!!! WHEW!!!  I will be expanding my design studio by offering more special order furniture , lighting, etc., more about that later…and will continue to fine tune Perfect Home’s merchandise mix to meet your needs.  I feel so blessed to come through 2009 relatively unscathed that I want to make the next decade my best ever!!!

I hope to see you all in the new year.  Whether for just a little “something, something” or new curtains, and lamps, and artwork, and furniture, and……OK, I’m getting carried away, I know!  I wish you all health and happiness in the new year, because after all, those are the two things that truly matter!

Happy New Year,

Reesa

Gifts Galore!

Your tree is trimmed, shimmering with light.  Now is the time to surround it with gifts destined to delight!  Here are just a few gift ideas from Perfect Home that will make that last minute gift buying oh, so easy!   Give me a call at 706-802-0500 if you see something you like and I will be glad to help.

 

Yummy Aspen Bay candles   $16 to $25

 

Beautiful snowflake ornament  $5

Still lots of ornaments left… $3 to $10!

Love these for hostess gifts.  Napkin sets and wine stops all under $20.

 We always sell out of these tea towels… $9.50 to $18

My favorite ornament this year.  So beautiful and only $10

Lots of glitz and glam for $6 to $8

 

 

Votivo’s Christmas scents in a pretty silvered glass container  $28

Elegant mirrored cross ornaments  $6

As always, our delightful Mark Roberts fairies for $34

Just waiting to go home with you!

If you are still looking for those quick last minute gifts, please stop by Perfect Home and we will make it so easy for you.  Just pick that perfect gift… we will wrap it for you… and off you go!  Hope to see you soon.

Reesa

Back by Popular Demand…Lake House Part Two

Several people have asked when Part Two of my lake house project would be posted to my blog, and I finally had a chance to sift thru my pictures and share with all of you this  major transformation.  A few weeks ago I posted the first floor and now, the second.  This floor has a bedroom for little grand- girls, a large sitting room and a totally new master bedroom and bath suite. 

First, the girl’s room…

 

How’s this for a before shot?  What is this??? A beauty shop or a little shop of horrors?

If my client weren’t such a good sport, and now such a good  friend, I wouldn’t be showing you such a mess!

 

And now for the after….

 

Great little antique beds I found and had custom painted to match the bedding.

 

Love the bedding… a  Bed,Bath and Beyond find.  With three little girls sharing this room, we saved the custom work for the windows.

 

I wish you could see this fabric, it is a sheer with pink and green ribbon embroidery, layered over green polished cotton. So fresh and cute.  We repeated the same treatment across the large triple window.

This is the wall where before we had the lovely “Kut and Kurl  Beauty Shop”!!  Still need to add a few three dimensional flowers to the wall and a hanging lamp in the corner.

 

Here are the before shots of my favorite room in the lake house.  It became know as “Reesa’s Room”, I loved it so much.  The rich wood paneled ceiling did it for me… it had me at “Hello!”   This is an upstairs sitting area with balcony overlooking the lake.

 

 

Sweet old Jake again, and my client…incognito!

 

And after a little Perfect Home polish!

 

This is a hard room to photograph with the light from the french doors, but you get the idea.  There are a pair of these chairs in a really cute printed linen with bugs and leaf pattern in taupe and browns.

 

Sorry for the fuzzy photo, but I wanted to show this area which was open to a small upstairs kitchen.  We enclosed that wall and added a new master bath and storage instead of the rarely used kitchen.

This vignette is on the same wall after enclosing it.  Much warmer and definitely a better use of space.

 

Cozy sitting area with view of the lake.

Desk area, before the chocolate brown monogrammed parsons chair arrived.

 

Now for the master bedroom before…

During…

 

And after!

 

The size of the bedroom was doubled and a new stack stone fireplace added, along with a large window overlooking the lake.

Love, Love, Love the headboard.  It is an antique architectural piece I found in the perfect blue grey weathered finish.  I had it mounted on the wall and added a bedframe.  Voila!  A unique and affordable bed.   Accent pillows to come!

Unfortunately, the seating area did not photograph well because of the window. It is a large area.  There are a pair of these custom chairs in a wonderful blue, green and taupe printed linen.  We added a 36”  round custom made ottoman in two shades of soft linen.  Really wish I had better photos  of this area.  I never want to brag on my own work, but I have to say this bedroom is yummy!  Pictures just don’t do it justice.  It is so nice to sit here with the home’s best view of the lake.  Perfect spot for that morning cup of coffee.

Simple roman shades complete the look.

And a stacked stone fireplace to warm up those chilly nights on the lake.

Sorry, I didn’t photograph the master bath for some reason.  Too much house… too little time  I guess.

The second floor of this home was my favorite to work on.  I hope you enjoyed this virtual tour and will post the third floor soon.  It is the guest floor and very casual and fun.

More to come…

Reesa

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