the coat rack rundown

My coat rack works hard. And I don't consider it just a coat rack. It acts as an organizer of all things I might need on my way out the door. It had been neglected and needed some attention.

In the process of repainting my office, I took everything off the rack, and started over, considering all of the things that I really needed this area to do.

On top, a basket holds books and movies to be returned to the library. I can also deposit oversize packages that need to get taken to the post office in the basket, or items to be returned at the mall.



The hooks, of course, keep our coats organized. I try to rotate the jackets in or out storage seasonally, so that the rack doesn't get too overwhelmed. Obviously, this is an ongoing thing to keep up with, and I had not done it in a while. With the bulky coats of winter put away, I can also hang guests' coats here as they come in the door. Now there is more room to keep my umbrella and purse here as well.

The basket on the floor under the coat rack is sort of a catchall. It is the perfect spot to stash my reusable grocery bags, the tote I take on consultations, and seasonal purses. When its cold out, hats and scarves find their home here too.


If you think that a similar system might work for you, here are a couple of good looking products:

Restoration Hardware's Bistro Train rack could definitely be put to use outside the bathroom.


Create your own system using mismatched brackets, shelving, and hooks:
Anthroplogie's Vineyard Brackets and Lava Flower Hook Rack with Ikea's Tryggve wood shelf.


Or go ultra-simple with the Container Store's Platinum elfa basket and hook system.

blog confessionals

What a treat to meet up with fellow design bloggers. As my interest in blogging morphs into an obsession, it's nice to find out that I'm not alone. Last night at Seattle's gorgeous, happy and modern Velocity Art and Design showroom, four design savvy bloggers shared their wisdom. I was as giddy as a school girl, and hung on their every word, and left (at 8pm on the dot to catch the ferry back to Bremerton), wanting to know more! I was such a geek about it, I even dutifully took notes in my Real Simple padfolio.

The top four nuggets of knowledge I took away from last night's talk:
1. Blog everyday. (I promise I will from now on.)
2. Invite your readers and fellow bloggers to become part of your blog. Encourage and engage in constant conversation.
3. Find your blogging voice, develop it and stick to it!
4. Bacon is apparently a hot blogging topic and I should work it into more of my postings to maximize my readership.

All in all the event was incredibly motivating and enlightening. This was the second in a new series of monthly design/creative meet ups started and hosted by Velocity Art and Design. I missed the first one, which featured artist Matte Stephens and his pleasantly retro- modern artwork. I am sorry I was not there, but I have the next two events already in my planner! Thanks so much to John Tusher of Velocity Art and Design for creating these incredible, local opportunities! Hooray, I am hooked.

The four bloggers that indulged us in blogging banter were: Paola of Mirror Mirror, Elaine of Decorno, Mary of Shelterrific, and Megan of not martha.

Please take a few minutes to check out their sites! If you are curious about "The Lab" meet ups and upcoming topics, get more info at Velocity Art and Design.

office redesign

The desk before the redo.

My office was in need of a new pallet. We had previously been using it as the den, so the red and deep khaki color scheme worked to create a cozy lair. Now that it is functioning full time as a home office for both Chris and I, the time to change has come.

I wanted it to feel fresher and more calming. I wanted the desk to face the window so that I might inadvertently absorb some vitamin D while staring at the computer screen. I wanted the colors to flow with the rest of the house. Most of all, we needed it to be more functional.

In April, I was enthralled with Domino's feature on Drew Barrymore's Flower Films production company offices. Designer Ruthie Sommers injected high style in a touchable and personal manner. I just loved the outcome. The look is charming and welcoming without being kitschy. This blending of function and design is what I based my office redecorating on.

Before: The red curtains made the room nice and dark while we were screening a movie, but did not provide enough light for office functions.

After: With the desk in position to receive lots of natural light, I decided to change out the curtains (an old pair from an old apartment) to a golden yellow.


Before: There was only one chair for a guest, cat, client or spouse to sit in.


After: Now one of us can lounge with a cat or two while the other works on the computer.


The bookcase to the left of the desk holds all of my design books and favorite design magazines. My bulletin board cluster hangs above.


The command center sits to the right of the desk and keeps my everyday references at arms' reach.


Plus, now Basie can sit and watch Old Blue the stellar jay pick through our gutter for nest materials.

a desire to simplify, add modern design

I am ready to uncomplicate my surroundings to achieve a more serene space.
Image from Jeff Andrews Design on Metropolitan Home's website.


Lately, I have been on a second-hand store bender. And, while I truly love and value the concept of giving old things a new context in my home, I feel that my surroundings are quickly becoming too "precious". Scrolly legs on tables, pretty floral fabrics, and accessories that look well-loved or old fashioned dominate my home. All of a sudden, it feels cutesy, not casual... the look seems too contrived and pulled together.

I have recently acquired the desire to simplify and add some subtle, more modern elements. How in the world can I do this for NO money?
Can I copy some contemporary ideas with the pieces that I already have?
What if I just purge and declutter?
If any of you have any thoughts on this matter, I would really like to hear them.

The "no budget" concept is going to be a hard one to get around. I'll let you know what I come up with. So for now, here are some images of rooms that inspire me.

Betsy Burnham Design, based in L.A. beautifully blends classic with contemporary. This serene and simple bath is a pleasant example of that aesthetic.


The clean lines and stark contrast of this dining area found on Metropolitan Home's website appeal to me. It is refined without feeling cold.


This living room has a cozy, but sophisticated vibe. The squareness of the upholstered pieces lends a modern feel while the rich espresso brown tones warm the space. Also based in L.A., Jeff Andrews Design combines a modern sensibility with old fashioned comfort.


The light and contemporary elements in this photo are complements of West Elm. The cut glass lamp,simple rectangular desk, and large bands of color on the curtains draw me in.


Some recurring elements to take note of: modern light fixtures, color pallets that create high contrast, crisp white, lots of textural elements, and well-placed bold pops of color. So, again, how am I to accomplish this mission with no financial investment? Heaven help me...

show stoppin' sofa

I have always maintained that updating the pillows on your sofa is one of the quickest, most economical ways to change the look of your living room. I like to do it every four months or so to create a look and feel for each season. Places like TJ Maxx and Cost Plus World Market have a super variety at affordable prices. If you are handy at the sewing machine, and could spend a little time making new covers, then your options for personalizing your sofa are infinite! This is a crash course in mixing prints and textures to create an inviting place to sit everyday.



Start with a blank slate, so you can vizualize the look you want to create. I am happy to have a very neutral sofa so I can bring in texture and pattern through the fabric on the throw pillows.




The first pair of matching pillows creates a feeling of symmetry and provides a fabric design that repeats the color scheme of the room. If your sofa itself is covered in a patterend fabric, I would suggest that you start with two solid colored pillows, and introduce prints in the next step. This way you won't overwhelm your sofa.


The next pillow should add a new texture and pick up one of the colors from the first set. I chose the apricot silk pillow which coordinates with my accent wall color.



A fourth pillow might bring in a new shape like round or lumbar, for variety. This pillow might also introduce a new type of pattern. For example, if you started with a small stripe, maybe this pillow has an oversized, off-center, single flower on it.



Lastly, I like to drape a solid colored throw over one end of the sofa. Even in the summer,I get chilly when sitting and reading here. To me, a soft throw makes the sofa feel more inviting and less formal. If you don't like the draped look, fold it neatly and center it on the back of the sofa or tidily drape it over one arm.

A well dressed sofa can be the focal point of the room if your space is lacking a physical one, such as a fireplace or an ocean view. Give this formula a try in your own home, and email your photos to me at bchicdesign@gmail.com!

vintage is fun again

Shopping for vintage accessories at antique malls is nothing new. It is exciting, however, when you discover a fantastic establishement in your own backyard. Recently, I have been frequenting downtown Bremerton's Simply Renewed. In search of unique gifts for my mom and mother-in-law for mother's day , I wandered in and found myself poking around for over an hour. I picked out a couple of sweet mismatched china tea cups and saucers for Laura and a set of beautifully embroidered linen napkins for my mom, Jan. I also stumbled upon the PERFECT gifts for my two brothers-in-law for their upcoming birthdays.

Along the way, I discovered several items I would love to purchase, including a wall hung lamp that would look amazing(and provide necessary lighting) above the sofa in my home office. There were scores of vintage lamps, great furniture pieces, and lots and lots of artwork. The pricing was very fair; reasonable enough to be tempting if I was not on a budget!




Peggy Nord, owner of Simply Renewed, runs the outfit on her own most of the time, and boy is she busy! Peggy also organizes The Annual 4th Street Market, which takes place each summer, right around the corner from the store. The street is closed off and merchants and artisits sell their wares. This year, she'll host it three times: June 14th, July 12th, and August 9th. Admission is free of charge and the market opens at 9:00am and closes at 4:00pm. For complete information on the event and how to secure a vendor space please visit her website at simplyrenewed.com. Sounds like a great excuse to get outside, enjoy a cup of coffee from Fraiche Cup and search for that special vintage accesory you've been looking for!

command center

My office has been working hard lately, as my husband works from home once a week and I have been increasingly working on my own business development. We have made some great changes to get things more orderly and rearranged the furniture to help the room function better for our needs. One of the changes I implemented was to consolidate my books onto one of the existing shelves, and to use the other as a "command center". This idea could easily be applied to your own home office, or to a bookcase at some central location in your home.



Let's dissect each level, starting on the top surface of the bookcase: Zone One.
Here I have created a little bill paying center. My bill sorter contains a slot for each day of the month and a drawer for stamps, envelopes and address labels. (Yes, I am still somewhat old school and mail some bills with checks in stamped envelopes.)
The calendar hangs above it, for handy reference. My phone and Rolodex are also on this tier. There is a notepad and pencil in the drawer of the bill sorter for taking messages.

Moving on to Zone Two: reference central. This shelf is home to all daily reference materials: dictionary, thesaurus, phone books, address book, even my bird guide. In a three tiered paper sorter I keep several types of computer paper stocked as well as copies of the most current home decor catalogs. (When the new ones arrive, I recycle the outdated ones). My pad folio, personal decorating binder, home owner's reference manual, and a couple of extra notebooks also hang out here. A little red tool box containing picture hanging gear rounds out this tier.

The bottom bookshelf contains my design essentials: Zone Three. The expanding file where I organize my design inspiration tear outs (as discussed in an earlier entry) sits here for easy access. Another file box dedicated solely to my business related files shares the shelf. On top of it rests my C2 paint color kit, which I am constantly referring to at home or using on consultations.

You can use this formula to create your own personalized zones for items that you and your family refer to on a daily basis. Those common items that you and your loved ones so often use will always be found in the same spot. You may never find yourself answering the question" Honey, where's the phonebook?" again!