Emily Henderson & Secrets From A Stylist on HGTV: Part II

Well, after watching the premiere show last week I have to say there were things that I thought were great - and things that I was a bit puzzled about.  I loved the final room creation and the way that Emily was able to meld the husband and and wife's styles - but I had a little trouble with the fact that Emily painted the entire room blue first - only to completely change the color later.

The first incarnation from the premiere show,

which was more the wife's style - a Hollywood Regency look

This is a gorgeous look, but it suited the wife's style more than the husband's.  So - Emily went into her "change the wall color etc" mode...

Living Room...After.  This brought more of the Hollywood Men's Club look that the husband loved

With the wall color change plus some of the furniture and accessories changes - I think she really achieved a beautifully blended look that suited both the husband's and wife's styles.

After seeing Episode 2, you begin to get the real method behind the madness theme in this show - The first look is supposed to be good and the second...better. If my clients ever start making me change the wall color after approving one - I would be out of business! However - on Emily's blog - we learn that the production company is OK with this and the cost to re-do is included. 

Emily with the Ravals from Episode 2

If you notice the orange accent wall in the picture above, that was the "re-do" wall in this episode.  Emily says that men love accent walls.  That must be so because my husband had accents walls all over his house (that I changed after moving in!).  Most were done with wallpaper (nothing worse than wallpaper for a decorative painter!).  In this episode, Emily painted the accent wall orange - for the husband.  It really wasn't good - and I am a lover of that hue.

The first incarnation - the orange accent wall that the husband favored somewhat

The second incarnation - that retains an accent wall - but softened and

more in keeping with the wife's style

All images from "Secrets" from HGTV

I love what Emily did here - the ikat pillows and the chairs (and that great velvet chair in the corner). She brought in more the Madmen look into the room - but softened it to suit the wife's aesthetic. I am still not in love with the door that remained in a wood tone - but it does blend with the floor.  I would have painted both the moldings and the door in the soft gray because I think it stands out too much and it's not a great standout look.

On the Accent Wall Change. On her blog she tells readers that the accent wall looked great on TV but the wallpaper (an Asian grasscloth) installer did a really bad job, complete with seams showing etc.  She had to bring in another installer (a woman who she said she would never give out her name because she's so good and she's be afraid she'd get too busy!).  Oh brother - I hope my clients don't feel that way!  But, I digress.  This installer came in and removed the badly done grass wallpaper and re-did it perfectly. 

I think she did a beautiful job.  I am really starting to love this show.  Would love to hear what others think!

Speaking of grasscloth/fabric looks on the wall.  I just love the look of grasscloth etc on wall...accent wall or full room walls.  It's a lovely way to bring in texture to your room.  At our studio, we do install wallpaper - but one of our specilaties is doing faux fabric and grasscloth looks on walls and other surfaces.  In the Hamptons, we did a beautiful raw linen look/parchment on nightstands, so it's a great effect even on small accents in your home.

A faux raw silk finish that we did in Garden City NY

A pearl silk patterned finish that we did in a sitting room in Bay Shore NY

This fabric/grasscloth look is really beautiful.  I am even doing this look in my mudroom. When I'm finished - I will post!

If you would love to have these beautiful looks in your home, call me at 631 793-1315 or email me for a free consultation at Linda.Leyble@gmail.com

Some Unique Decorative Items From the New York Gift Show January 2011

So Many Beautiful Things to Look at...Too Little Time:  I always try to make it to the New York Gift Show in January and August at the Javits Center and the Piers.  I missed the show last August because I was in the throes of creating a room for the Designer Showhouse at Caumsett State Park - and so...I couldn't make it.

But I made it this January - despite the frigid temperatures and snow.  I have to say that the show was pretty good - a few of my favorite companies were noticeably absent.  But, there were a few new ones that made up for it.  Here are some of my finds.

Jonathan Adler had some beautiful products - beautiful porcelain boxes and, of course, some bug pillows - which were everywhere.  First image: Elle Decor

Wholesale heaven! These velvet bunny banks were so much fun - I bought 3 @ $14.50 a piece. The multicolor votive holders came as a set of 18 - for $69!  From Barreveld DK Living

 Same company had these gorgeous iridescent bunnies also.  Was I attracted to all the signs of spring?  You better believe it!

 

Barbara Cosgrove was there of course.  I love all of her lamps.

 

More bugs!  From Two's Company. Image: Elle Decor

 

And butterflies. From La Maisonette.  Image: Elle Decor

This was my favorite find - a new company from Highland Park, IL that makes these beautiful storage ottomans called Couefs (and that's the name of the company). It stands for Chair Ottoman  Upholstered End Table Furniture because you can use them as seats, end tables etc. They had am array of fabrics - even tile and wallpapered ones and you can customize your own with COM.

You can even have a pull out surface for a drink!

 

Here's a view of one of their tiled coeufs - with a shiny metallic fabric top.  Beautiful!

Vintage Print Gallery made me think of spring also! Image: Elle Decor

 

 

 

Images above, of course, from perennial Gift Show favorite - Luna Bella.  I have several of their lamps and pendants and I always get so many compliments on them

Modern lighting was also represented, as in this felt (yes, felt) pendant 

 

Of course, some beautiful distressed items like these columns from JM Piers

 

Antiqued urns from Go Home

And beautiful Tuscan vases, urns and planters from Abigail's