Annie Sloan Chalk Paint- DRAMA ARMCHAIR!!

Well, gals... I have been painting... again... I tell you, it is addictive... I could paint for hours and hours on end...it makes me happy... it relaxes me and puts things in perspective...and the expectation of the transformation...well, I like it!!

Remember the armchairs I took from my mother's?

Preety, right?! I especially loved the deep green velvet, I knew I had to use them for the living room, I even created several moodboards around them... then I painted the coffee table and knew the armchairs needed to be painted also!!

I love Annie Sloan Chalk Paint... But the first time I bought it from the USA... it took a lot of time and even more money... now, after moving in I was desperately wanting the armchairs painted...had no time to wait for the paint, I needed Graphite, as in the coffee table, and found a distributor in Poland, the country closest to Romania that ships the paint. But shipping was the same amount of money as the paint itself...bummer... it was over my budget and I was forced to get creative!! And I did!! What did I do?? Well, from the USA I had bought a can of Provence and another of Emperor's Silk. I had used Provence for a couple of projects, the sample pot Graphite for the coffee table, but I knew that for my home, red wouldn't fit...so I decided to experiment: I added wall paint colour (black) to half a jar of Emperor's Silk and hoped for the best. After two coats and one coat of dark wax, I really got the best!!!! This:

Drama, drama, drama come to momma!!

Here is one painted and one unpainted:

Better, right?!

I love the pillows with the armchairs, I really think the graphic punch 

was exactly what was needed to brighten the room!!

So this is the transformation of my two green velvet armchairs. I am loving the result and I am still waiting for the rug and of course, the much-waited-delayed sectional to complete the look of the living room. Drapes are up since tonight at midnight, yeah, it took me 5 hours to iron and hang them!!A lot to go, still, but I'm in no rush!!

So, do you like my dramatic armchairs? Do share!!

xoxo,

Ozana

Siobhan Mooney and my personal challenges in building/decorating a house

Heya, lovelies!!

As you know, I am moved in the new house, but the house is not finished yet, the interior is almost finished, but the exterior has so much work to be done still!! We have been building this house for 6 years now and dindn't have a contractor, hubby supervised the construction. With no training in construction for him or interior design for me, I must tell you, it is hard!! For the kitchen, for example, we had to change the layout for the power outlets, a thing hubby did not like at all!!

That got me thinking about the process of  designing a room, from the begining to the very end, when the last piece of art is hung and in place. I have learned so much during this process, but  still I have a huge way to go, so here is what Siobhan Mooney, one of Britain foremost interior designers has to say about the process of creating a room, in an interview on Gallery Blinds:

"What is your process for designing a room? Is it set or does your method vary from one project to another?

For me every project is different, it is as different as people are different! My common thread is the quality level I work to. On each project, I source and supply premium products. A lot of the furniture and materials will be bespoke.

I will meet a client and hopefully be able to visit their existing home. Then I ask them in their own environment what they like about their home and if there are any items they would like to bring into the project. This tends to be the starting point, because most of the skill of interior designer is understanding people.

I recently met a couple who had pitched me against another couple of designers. They asked each designer to come up with ideas for two areas of their house.

I had met them very briefly for a chat and came back at a later date with a presentation. At the end of the meeting, the client said ‘That was amazing, you only met us for 15 minutes’. They liked everything I showed them, but that was because I understood who they were, so I got the job. This is a skill that I have developed over time, by continually putting myself in my clients’ shoes.

At a basic level, every job in every style must have a room laid out on plan, with all the functions it will need to accommodate in mind. To begin your project, you need to start thinking of potential furniture layouts, which will dictate things like electrical power points and radiator positions – you always need to keep these practical points in mind."

Remember my post about those goregous Manuel Canovas fabrics? The designer brought them up  in her  interview:

"Which interior design trends have caught your eye in 2013?

Manuel Canovas is celebrating its 50th year and has brought out a very vibrant print range. It’s a bit too exuberant for the British market, but should do very well on the continent!

It’s interesting to see what works in different countries: a lot is cultural and a lot is to do with what works with the light the further south you go. Again, I’m interested to see so many overseas companies picking up on Art Deco."

If you are interested in Siobhan Mooney's interview, you can rean more here.

My house is a work in progress, and as we go we stumble upon different problems and challenges, but it is our own place and it's a lot bigger than the two-rooms apartment we've lived for 9 years, so we take one step at a time and hope for the best. I'll keep you updated as we get things done, so you can join us along. I was telling you in this post that I dream of having many, many plants, both inside and outside, so  here is a sneak peak of the entry hall with our newest pinkiest addition:

 

  

I simply love the pop of colour it adds to the entry hall, and I really like the iron flower stand I bought yesterday!! All we have to do now is say a little prayer for me NOT killing the plant, I tend to do that, even if I truly love them, and water them accordingly with their needs,  they seem to always die on me...:(

So, what say you? Like?? 

xoxo,

Ozana

Master bedroom reveal

 !!! UPDATE on this room HERE: MASTER BEDROOM !!!

Hi, you guys!!

Moving into a new house, the house you've dreamed of finishing for about 6 years now, can be exhausting, but it is really rewarding and it really makes me happy... Having my own master bedroom, not one I have to share with my little one, is...well...something else. I am still struggling with middle-of-the-night cries for mommy, but in theory the girls share a room, and me and hubby share our master bedroom. This:

It is still a work in progress, but as it looks is good enough for me...for now :))

I decided it was time for some animal action in the master (take your minds out of the gutter!!:)), 

so I chose zebra print for the sheets!!:))

Remember the pillows?? Told you I'd use them for the master too!!

The Ikea Malm dresser will have a makeover soon...

(insert snake brass pulls here!!)

...and, please, ignore Jerry !!:))

...asked my semstress to make me this Greek key duvet...I love it!!

...bought the rug I wanted...

.....remember my diamond tufted headboard??

The room is basic, I still need to hang the antlers, some art, to make it feel finished!

Love the thickness of the sheepskin!!

...needing lamps...

Loving my stripes!!

On the right is the small dressing, with a mirror sliding door, made by Tia Colors.

In that empty space between the dressing doors and the Malm dresser

I want a desk/make-up vanity.

And a plant!!

Love having a mirrored sliding door!!

I plan to style up the look here!! Greek key, anyone??!!

..stripes and more stripes...

Remember my Ikea Rast hack?? Still loving the details on this...

We will hang this mirror I finally painted black after painting it gold here and Provence here....

Black really speaks to me!!

See the light reflected in the mirror?? Love it!!

I declare myself utterly in love with my Ninfa light in the master!!

Mirror look...

Well, this is the master bedroom, it is not finished, these are only the basics, but I am in no rush, I will find those elements that will make it my personal place... I am in love with it even now...

So, yey or nay?? Do share!!

xoxo,

Ozana

Kitchen reveal

Heya!!!

I'm live!! My internet connection in the new house is finally done!! As promised yesterday, I am going to show you my house. I will  start with the kitchen. The furniture I chose is modern, glossy, black and white. It was made by Tia Colors and I love it!! The cabinets are made from MDF and glass. I like glass because it cleans really quickly and it reflects light. Here is my new kitchen:

I'm all about mixing old and new, so in my modern kitchen I chose to display my mom's ruby set 

and a vintage tea set. Like?? By the way, this is one of my favourite spots, the bar.... 

Yes, I was actually cooking!!:) Here you can see the sparkle in the countertop!!:)

Art in the kitchen, remember?? 

I have  one more painting in mind for that ledge.... keep you posted!!

The table and chairs are from the old apartment, the legs of the table got painted black,

 as they were dark brown, like the chairs. They will be reupholstered in the future.

Loving the brightness in the kitchen...

We still have to buy the light pendant for the middle of the kitchen, the two bar stools, we have a ledge to hang and I dream of a unit on the right wall but this is my kitchen so far and I couldn't be happier with it!!

xoxo,

Ozana

Kitchen sneak peek!!

Yes, I have moved to the new house!!!! Yeyyy!!! But, I've got no internet connection yet, so I give you something I wrote a while ago: Almost a week ago I tried to talk about something else but my moving, shared with you some beautiful garden designs, but somehow ended up showing you guys pictures I took at the house!!:) So, today I am not going to pretend to be thinking about something else, so I'll keep it short and sweet with a small kitchen update:

Well, I love my kitchen countertop, as it is shiny black with sparkle in it!! And in the light there's a beautiful sparkle in the tiles, too, so it's a sparkly happy kitchen!!:)) I like that I have a tall faucet which will allow me to have a lot of space for big pots/plates!!

Hope I will have internet connection tomorrow for a true post. I'll show you the kitchen, or the stairs units, or my bedroom, or my bathroom, which one would you like to see?? Do share!!! xoxo, Ozana

Beautiful garden designs

Hey, friends!!
It's already Monday and  this week we hope to be moved... I've gone on and on with my move, it seems I cannot post about anything else.. I'll try!! Let's talk about plants, about the outdoors!! For those of us living in an apartment, having something green means a plant or two in a pot, but when you live in a house, you sure have other options in the yard. Let me show you some beautiful outdoor designs.....

We can't all have this....

Loving the big square stones and craving the fountain...

I really want two of these gigantic planters at the entrance on both sides of the door!!

We will definitely have those hanging flowers at the balcony, hubby adores them!!

Loving the stones as a path...

Lighting is important, we all know that....

A fire pit??? Yes, please!!

Aaaaand, who wouldn't love this??

Well, I hope you all get to enjoy a yard, some fresh air, some beautiful decor. We will have to work on the outside of the house this spring, we'll get on that as soon as the weather warms up a bit, but there is sooo much to do, I am beginning to get scared!! Hubby is best at exterior stuff, I will be choosing colours, style, he'll get to veto my decisions, I'll get upset if he doesn't like my choices, you all now the drill!!:)) In the end, who do you think will get her way?? At least I hope so!!:)))

I cannot, cannot, I tell you, end this post without talking about my house again!!:)

This is what the girls get to see on their balcony!!

This is the view from my bedroom!! That fence is going to be great, I tell ya"!!

And, if you can stand one more picture, this is the view from the terrace!!

This is my sunset!!

As you can see, our house is in the countryside, I would never have imagined ending up here, but I did, and I am truly happy and utterly in love with this place!! And it's a great place to raise kids in, right?!

I plan to buy some flowers and plans for the garden, I tend to favor wild-looking plants like these:

I don't even know what their nedds are, if they love sun or shaddow, but I like them!!

I like the elegance of the white flowers...

I'd love to get a big version of this bush and put two in two large cement planters, 

like the ones I showed you above, for the entrance door!!

And some colour!!

I have to say, I know nothing about gardening, I was raised in a flat, didn't have a lawn to mown, or plants to water, or garden to style, but I am a fast learner and I hope I'll manage!!

xoxo,

Ozana

First 9 images are from Houzz, the last 5 are from Dedeman.