Shelter in The Boston Globe

It is always exciting to be in the Press. Last weekend The Boston Globe shared a recent project that I completed in Boston. Thank you to my wonderful photographer Sarah and to Jaci Conry for the feature. Read more about this South End condo here. For information on hiring Shelter for a design project contact us: @ julie@shelterinteriordesign.com

For more images on this home see my blog post here. 

Fall favorites

Happy Thursday! How is it already mid-September? It still feels like August around here, so this Mama is a happy one. I'm working on some really exciting projects right now. Here are six interior design trends and classic looks I'm eyeing and/or using!!

 1. BLEACHED OR LIMED WOOD FLOORS

2. CEMENT FLOOR TILES

these come in an array of designs and this company has a great selection.

3. BRASS GLOBE LIGHTS

4. LARGE PHOTOS AND BOHEMIAN THROWS AND PILLOWS

5. BRASS SHELVING

6. PAINTED LANTERNS

Shelter Loves....

Happy Fri-yay!! I had a great design meeting today with a client I have worked with in the past! A big part of my business involves building relationships. I love watching my clients lives evolve and their families grow. The personal connections I make through my job is one of the most rewarding aspects!
I was working away on quite a few projects this week so my brain is in need of a day off.. Here is what caught my eye in the process! Peace out, have a relaxing weekend!

1. I designed a nursery yesterday. I love creating spaces for children that they can grow into. Designer, Nick Olsen did just that with this beautiful nursery design. Image via Veranda.
2. I'm kinda digging the platform wedge shoes that are out right now. They are stylish and comfy..A win, win in my book!
3. God, don't we all know this!! I've got to learn to move on a bit better.
4. I've decided to finally finish my personal photo wall in my home. I loved this mix of images and the simple framing used here.
5. + 6. My wonderful client and I walked through her new home today. It is a beautiful house with so much opportunity. We talked about injecting her home with moments of black and white stripes. The classic combo is perfect when done right! This Dorothy Draper designed floor is a great example of the look I adore! I'm also loving this moto jacket layered over a summery striped dress. Find a similar dress here.

Office Update - Shelter

Hello, hello!! We have been working away on a number of projects at Shelter but today I squeezed in some time to put together our new office boards. Don't cringe at the before photos of the area - (images below). This is what we are working with for space. I can't rip out the floor tile but I will be covering as much as I can with a rug. We are painting the walls a very pale grey and recovering the windows in simple woven shades. I may even custom order a large seagrass rug to lay under the black and white rug. I want to cover as much of the tile as possible!!

I wanted to create a clean, fresh office. I will be setting up a large inspiration board to tack fabrics and design ideas to. (I love Kelly Wearstler's over sized board - image below). I also own a number of the items that we will be using. (I'm sort of a chair addict so I have collected a number of random chairs). I have linked to the rest of the items. This space will also be created on a budget. Meg (my fabulous design assistant), myself and Matty hope to finish it up by the beginning of May!!
I will be sure to share the after photos with you!

BEFORE: 

Painting the walls a very pale, pale grey. Clark+Kensington's CW-C3

1.  Brass lamps
2. We will use a mix of vintage containers for our pens and pencils. Via Etsy and thrift shops.
3.  Melltorp Ikea table x 2 (using as desks)
4. + 5. I own two Eames chairs and will throw sheep skin rugs over them for comfort.
6. Hustle print
Ikea rug - Stockholm rug
7.  Storage baskets for samples and project fabrics
8.  Cheery artwork
9. Kelly Wearstler's design boards
10. Smaller pin boards for business cards, calendars etc.
11. + 13 I own two chairs similar to these. We will use them around a round glass top table that I already own. This will serve as a meeting and secondary work area.
12. Two pillows to use on the wooden chairs. Loving these!!

Happenings......

Hola! Happy Thursday! I thought I'd share with you what is going on around here at Shelter. I'm working on a few great design projects and wrapping some others up as well! You might as well focus on the interior of your home when the exterior is covered in snow......

I've been working with one client for over a year! They are wonderful people and I can't wait to share their beautiful home photos with you when the project is completed! Here is a peek at their foyer design and a malachite console I had custom made for them. I work with some fabulous work rooms and the sky is the limit to what they will fabricate for me. I simply provide the drawings + inspiration sketches and viola! Perfection....Photography: Sarah Winchester

WORKING ON.....

I used Ace Hardware's Clark+Kensington paint for these two projects in the following color: Walls: Abstract Gray N-C26

FINISHED UP this bright and cheery kitchen for another client.......Photography by: Ann-Marie Rollo

Paint colors: Cabinets: Designer White - 1066

Walls: White Moon 35A-1

AT SHELTER: 

My assistant, Meg and I are going to begin to set up our new office space. We will be co-sharing the space with Matty, so he would like to set up his area (understandable ;) ) "The girls" area will be inspired by these images. We just need to wait for the 6' of snow to melt a bit before moving in but I suppose we can begin to paint. Stay tuned for the before and afters of the space this Spring!! I'll be sharing an office design board soon.

The office is going to mix clean white, smokey pinks/greys and brass. I want it as open and bright as possible. I will have a work area and a central round table. I already own most of the items I want to use, which is a good thing!

I prefer to work on a large flat surface such as a table as opposed to a small desk. So I'll be heading to Ikea for two white tables/desks.

The space will combine these elements...

This is Kelly Wearstler's office...I mean don't get me wrong, my office could fit on that table top but I'm liking the mix of smokey colors..

I also LOVE these colors

I love a clean white desk and organized work space. Image via

My Thanksgiving table

Today I am thrilled to share my Thanksgiving table with you all! As most of you know I hosted in my little house. I don't have a large family, so it wasn't an issue. I had a fire lit (thanks to Matty) and served all of my favorite dishes.  Along with turkey we had candied sweet potatoes, whipped mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade stuffing and apple pie.

The table setting mixed both vintage and new elements, including dessert dishes that have been in my family for years. The small dogs on the bar table were also my Grandmothers.

My children and I gilded the pumpkins together to prep for the day and my assistant, Meg and my Mom helped me set the table. A great event isn't complete without a stocked bar! I included the bar area photos too. You can also get a glimpse of my message center area. You have to make great use of every inch of space in a small home! 

Cheers, I hope you enjoyed seeing a bit of my home. I also wanted to thank the photographer Ann-Marie Rollo for her wonderful eye and patience! This shoot took place on the darkest and rainiest of days but we pulled it off. Meg, Ann-Marie and I happily sipped wine by the fire afterwards! A big thanks to my Dad for lighting the fire that day!

The gilded paint is available at most Ace Hardware stores.. The wall color I used is from the Clark+Kensington and OPI nail lacquer collaboration. It is one of my favorite white shades called: Don't Touch My Tutu. It is a beautiful white color with the perfect amount of warmth.   

Product info:

Vintage gold glasses from: High Street Market

Bees wax candles: Creative Candles ** these candles did not drip, they burned beautifully.

Shelter Project - sneak peek

I wanted to share a sneak peek of a kitchen revamp I am working on. So far I've had the floors white washed and a beautiful hexagon design painted.
Color used for hex design: Clark+Kensington's: Garden Stone N-C10.
The painting was done by a good friend, artist and fellow design blogger Danika from Gorgeous Shiny Things. She did a fab job. Next up?? I am having the cabinets sprayed white, a built in bench made, new lighting and existing chairs sprayed in navy blue. I'll be sure to share the before (see below image for before) and after with you all!  Eventually my client would like to add a back splash and a new counter top. Shelter is also finishing off this long term client's family room design.

these images don't include the finish coat over the top. I chose to use a satin finish.

Here is the "before" floor. It was a dated, country look.

And some more painted floor ideas I'm loving......

Kate Spade store

Tips and Tricks - interview with Ace Hardware's Homeplace Magazine

I was thrilled to share my thoughts with Ace Hardware's Homeplace magazine on how to bring a space to life with your personal style. All the Clark+Kensington colors used in my designs are noted above. (click to enlarge image) Please feel free to comment with any questions! For the entire article and more design information click here.

I used Clark+Kensington's OPI nail lacquer shade - Don't Touch My Tutu in the pop-up room I designed in NYC. This shade is a beautiful warm white that literally glows. Check out the room I designed here.

Photography: Ann-Marie Rollo

Clark+Kensington and OPI (nail lacquer)

Good Afternoon! It has been an exciting kind of whirlwind week!! I've missed you all and my blogging time! 

I've just spent the last four days in NYC setting up for a fabulous new strategic alliance with Clark+Kensington (Ace's boutique brand paint) and OPI nail lacquer. Clark+Kensington has teamed up with OPI and will now be selling 18 of their top selling nail colors in mixed paint. Nail lacquer color choices are so personal and individual and so are paint color choices. I think it's a wonderful collaboration!

The following photographs are of a room I conceptualized and designed around a collateral image ACE presented me. The original image featured the "miami beet" (an OPI color) painted dresser, the green tray and the painting hanging above it. I then devised a concept and designed this bedroom to work back to that image. It also incorporates one of the three paint palettes and all of the colors included in the "artist" palette.

My goal was to create a peaceful space, with graphic elements, soothing colors and feminine details. I mixed new and vintage items throughout. This entire room was designed with a budget in mind, that is what makes it so great. Everything is attainable and paint works wonderfully at transforming a room/home. It is also a cost effective option! I'd be happy to list the sources if you wish. 

This was a great experience and the launch party was a huge success! When I receive the professional photographs I'll be sure to share those as well. I snapped these with my i-phone!

Wall color:  Don't touch my tutu - will be available in stores on 6/23

Dresser color: Miami Beet

Trim color: Designer White, 1066
*see below for sources

1. Bedside tables are from Ikea. I had a carpenter apply the wood detail and I selected updated ring pulls. A quick and cost effective update for sure!
2. The brass mirror is vintage
3. The bedside lamps are from Wayfair
4. The vanity is from Home Decorators
5. White lamp is from Robert Abbey
6. Greek Key Bedding is from Ballard Design
7. Flower Print is from The Pink Pagoda
8. Louis Ghost chair is from Kartell

Sail Aweigh

Good Morning! It's gorgeous out here today! I spent the morning catching up on work but I wanted to share a nursery project that I recently completed with you.

The biggest challenge was the size of the space but we wanted to make it as user friendly as possible. (it was hard to capture even the crib area with the camera). Luckily the client (my sister in this case was able to use a changing table/dresser in a nearby room).

I don't like to create rooms that are obviously too thematic and cutesy but I was inspired by the sea and sailing on this one! We created a space that little Alex can grow into. There's room for a twin bed and dresser once the crib is removed.

I used all Ace hardware's Clark+Kensington paint on the project. Here are the colors:
Walls: in a deep navy blue: Heirloom China 37C-7, vintage table: Precious Peonies 06D-4

Other sources: lamp: vintage, artwork: boat bottom photograph (will provide name), pillows: misc. all via Homegoods, table: vintage repainted, chair: Boston Interiors, crib: Room and Board, Rug: Rugs USA, chandelier: Pottery Barn (slightly different version now, I would change the shades to white linen, Aweigh Print: here - then I had it custom framed, beach photograph: Christian Chaize

Photography: Ann-Marie Rollo - images property of Ace Hardware, Interior Design - Julie Richard, Shelter.