daily decorator

Today’s Room Service is for Taryn and her husband who just moved into their new home.  Taryn seems to be drawn to an updated classic look.  Here is Taryn’s letter.





Taryn sent in some pics of her lovely new space.





Since Taryn wants to surround herself with neutrals, I added warm elements with touches of brass, bronze & a splash of gold.  I also created a little more interest by mixing materials like metals, wood, leather and wool.  Starting with a clean slate of Benjamin Moore’s Berber White on the walls and the gorgeous wood floors, here is what I came up with.





To anchor the room I selected a modern sofa with sloping arms that I believe is a great combination of classic & modern.  I did select a patterned rug because it helps tie in the warmer colors.  If this is too much pattern for your liking, a plush cream rug like West Elm’s Pebble Rug would also work.  I believe the best spot for the couch because of lighting needs and traffic flow, would be up against the window wall.  I suggest a narrow, sofa table be placed out of sight behind the sofa to help with the flow of heat from the rad on that wall.  Not sure if this room would also be used for TV viewing, but I did include a layout that has 2 focal points…the fireplace & the TV.  (More on that later.)

Here’s the breakdown…

1.  JC Penney pair for $29.99   2.  CSN Stores Uttermost Amberlyn Antique Gold Mirror $217.80   3.  JC Penney Adjustable Metal Floor Lamp by studio $99   4.  West Elm Wool Curtain Panels starts @ $69   5.  Accent-Furniture-Direct Riverside Furniture Escapade Side Table $199   6.  Pottery Barn Eva Colored Glass Lamp in Amber $99   7.  Ethan AllenMontery Sofa $1699  
8.  Etsy/MaDahms White Thistle Pillow $26   9.  Etsy/UtilitarianFranchise Butterfly Pillow Cover $30   10.  Urban Outfitters Metal Accordion Coffee Table $128   11.  Etsy/ClayMystique Blue Vase $25   12.  Overstock Mission Brown Leather Tufted Bench/Ottoman  $199   13.  OverstockHand Tufted Jaira Tan Wool Rug 7X10 $324.69   14.  Urban Outfitters Accordian Metal Side Table $60   15.  Macy’sChloe Velvet Metro Living Chair (on sale)$499 Seafoam color shown (comes in Ivory too)   16.  Wisteria Gold Chinese Garden Stool $129

I also did a mock up of what the fireplace wall can look like if so desired.





Here I have added a classic wood mantle in white.  This particular one is from Agee Woodworks and starts at $394.  The bookcase/console is from West Elm and the white version is on sale.  I would love to see all that dark black stone around the fireplace covered in some mosaic tile.  The tiles pictured above are Terra Milan Glass & Stone Subway Mosaic Tiles from Mosaic Tile Supplies.

In case there will be some TV watching in this room I utilized the lone corner that shares a wall with the dining room.  Here is what that wall could look like.





Since no overhead lighting currently exists in the room, I have added 2 plug-in sconces that will bring some light higher into the space.  These Loop Dark Bronze Sconces are from Lamps Plus and are $79.99 each.  If you are still lacking light in the middle of the room one trick is to hide long extensions under the rug to the opposite couch wall.  It’s not ideal but will do the trick.  If installing recessed lights is not an option, consider installing outlets in the floor in areas where you need light.  This media cabinet is the Paterson White 48″ Media Console that sells for $399 at Crate and Barrel.  The clock is an Etsy find from decoylabs and sells for $68.

To complete the room, here is a selection of more possible accessories.





1.  Etsy/utilitarianfranchise $30   2.  Home Decorators 3 Gold Leaf Convex Mirrors $139   3.  Etsy/ponyandpoppy $30   4.  Z GallerieGold Metallic Hourglass  $34.95   5.  Z Gallerie White Globes $24.95 & $29.95   6.  Brook Farm General Store  Recycled Glass Ball Vase  $25   7.  Etsy/madahms White Thistle Pillow $26   8.  Etsy/frannyandjune Pleated Pillow $26   

Taryn’s room has many doorways which can make furniture placement tricky.  Here is a possible layout if TV watching is a necessity.  (If there is no TV, I would place both chairs facing the couch on the opposite end of rug.)

I want to thank you Taryn for ordering Room Service from the daily decorator.  I hope this helps you design your brand new living room! 

If you would like to have an online room design like Taryn, click  HERE  to find out more information.

It’s Wednesday and time to talk about some of the talented folks out there that I happen to come across while surfing the net! 

Lara from the blog, less cake {more frosting} designed a “rad” surf-themed room makeover for her son.


Here’s the before. 





With a new, more big boy color scheme, new accessories and bedding, Lara was able to completely transform this space.  Here’s the after.








Love that color combo!
To see more on the makeover click HERE.

Well, did you see it?  The big finale for HGTV’s Design Star?  It was one of the best episodes yet! 





I loved the final challenge.  Emily and Michael had to design 2 separate NYC studio apartments using their show concept and select one of the previous contestants to be their “client” and produce their show.  Each would have a lot of help to make it happen in 1 ½ days because they got to pick their crew {gym class style} from all the previous contestants from this season.

I really thought poor Nina would be the last one standing, but nope Michael surprised us all and selected annoying Nina to be on his team.  Not only did he select her, he made her his client.  Say whaaat??





That guy either has guts and wanted to show how he can take risks or he is just plain CRAZY!  Emily got a great crew and after some deliberation, made money-suit Tom her client. 

Once again, Michael was a nervous wreck and lacked confidence in himself.  Shockingly, Nina stepped up to bat and gave Michael the encouragement he needed.  Of course this was after the old, annoying Nina tried to make an appearance at the beginning of the challenge and Michael put her in her place.  You go “girl”! 

Emily was doing her laid-back, easy-going thing and trying to polish her on-air persona.  She is such a team player and not only can delegate well but also took advice really well from her old competitors. 

In the end, Michael produced a fabulous segment which was full of energy and fun to watch but his room design was nothing to write home about. 

Emily came across as real relatable, her room looked super-chic and “so Tom” but her segment was a little ho-hum. 

I knew who I was routing for but, I honestly wasn’t sure who the judges would select.

Michael’s show concept is to show recent college grads how to design their 1st home.  Here is the apartment that Michael did…

Love the headboard.  LOOOVE how his room divider/curtain that tucks back into that curvy wall!  Not sure about the random triangle mirrors and ….what’s that??  Do I see another Nina special up on the wall again.  Yikes!  

I’m not loving the curtain colors and there seems to be so many curtains.  I’m not loving the bare floors either.  Maybe I would have pumped up the glam a bit more. 

Emily’s show concept is to take inspiration from the client’s fashion style and translate that into their home  And here is what Emily put together using Tom’s suit as inspiration.

Definitely a homerun again for Emily.  I totally can see her “client” Tom in this room!







Finally, the answer we have been waiting for.  Who is the next Design Star????

It’s Emily Henderson people!  Hoot Hollar!

I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to seeing what Emily can do on HGTV!  Congrats Emily!  If you didn’t know, Emily has been a photo stylist and has put together some great looks for some pretty impressive clients.  Here is a peek at some of her work including some of her own personal spaces.


























To see more of Emily’s portfolio click  HERE.

To find out more about HGTV and Design Star click HERE.

Emily’s new show entitled, Secrets From A Stylist starts next Sunday night, August 29th at 10 p.m. ET.





I’m tuning in are you?

Select images for source information.

Do you need a whole new look for your room?  Check out daily d’s room makeover service.  Get an entire new, chic design for only $100!  Click image below to find out more.

Click on image below to see daily d’s rerun on a Styleroom house tour.

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Recognized as one of the rising interior design stars in the UK by London’s idfx Magazine, Kia Sunda of Kia Designs proves that interior design is sometimes just in your blood.  Some of the best designers come from unlikely backgrounds.  Kia studied history but fell into this passion for design.  Here is a peek at this twenty-something’s  portfolio.




















Images:  source

It’s finally here!  We finally get to see the contestants do their own thing!  No more being inspired by fruit, cheese, garlic, a trumpet or a carnation.  Here’s a room—go design it!  Plus, since this is a competition for a show on HGTV, they have to create the room with their show idea in mind.  Let’s start with Casey’s room first. 





Her show concept:  Designer Look On A Budget Repurposing Items You Already Own.








She spray painted various old picture frames and arranged them on the focal wall as art.

She spray painted a vintage chair in a modern yellow to update it.

She spray painted an old floor lamp black  and also spray painted an old table lamp which still looked old to me.

For drama she tented the ceiling with fabric.

Personally I think her room feels a little empty.  She could have really taken the challenge to heart.  There is so much you can do to update old/vintage items and repurpose them besides just spray paint them.  How about taking an old door and making it into a cool coffee table?  How about making a large scale rug out of carpet  square samples?  Make pillow covers out of old clothing/knit wear.  Make a table lamp out of a cool glass vase.  Oh well, definitely a missed opportunity.

Now onto Michael.





Michael’s show concept:  Help Recent College Grads Have A Cool Place While Being Resourceful.








His biggest achievement was creating a murphy bed that worked.

He “found” a hub cap and made it into a cool (but tiny) coffee table.

He stuck wall stickers to the wall for whimsy.

Where to start?  I hate to say it, but it looks like an upgraded dorm room to me.   I wasn’t impressed at all.  Maybe he should re-think his show concept.  How about a show for brand new home owners or newly married couples.  Let’s face it, how many recent college grad guys are watching HGTV.  Not many is my guess (at least not openly).  I would have at least created something dramatic with the hub cap idea.  Maybe use a bunch of them to create a large base for a coffe table instead of that teeny, tiny one.

Whatever, now on to Emily.





Emily’s show concept:  Take A Client’s Fashion Style and Translate That Into Their Living Space.

(I think another network already has that show (Hello Thom Felicia of Dress My Nest) but don’t let that stop you Emily.)








Emily took the outfit that she was wearing and translated the feeling of it in the room. 

She used spray adhesive and applied a pretty, blue patterned fabric on the focal wall.

She kept things organic with color and texture.  There are dark brown woods that contrast nicely with the light colored rugs.  There is that earthy green couch that looks fab in front of the blue fabric wall.  She had brass colored jewelry on and brought some brass accessories into the room.  Her personality has finally been shown in her design!

I absolutely loved it!  I felt like I fell into the pages of the much-missed Domino!  Which makes sense since she styled for that mag!

Now onto elimination.  I knew how I felt but I wasn’t sure what the judges thought.  Who should be the final 2? 





I think what it came down to was who would you want to see on TV?  Who keeps you wondering what will they do next?  Well the judges made the hard decision to say that Casey would not be one of those.  I’m sure they had to fight Candice to give up her dream of working along side man-magnet Casey. 





All images from HGTV.