My New Kitchen Slipcovers!!!

Back to school and back to projects that needed to get to done! I am so excited to share with you my new kitchen slipcovers!

Let’s start at the beginning, with two teenagers, a big, hairy dog and an Italian family who loves Marinara sauce; my kitchen was not a perfect environment for my linen, upholstered chairs! We’ve been living with dish towels draped over the seats to catch any spills– not very pretty. I needed some washable slipcovers and I needed them pronto!

As always I had an inspiration photo to show my wonderful seamstress (Photo: Things That Inspire). These were close to what I envisioned. I liked the straight lines and the overall length. I wanted something to cover the chair but not be too fussy.

I also needed the slips to be washable. I found these wonderful oversized napkins from French Laundry Home. I like their “grainsack” look and feel. They were big enough to cover just the seat, so we needed something extra for the skirting piece.

You might remember my wonderful linen blend curtains I found on sale last year at Country Curtains.

I bought extra fabric for $6 a yard and had these wonderful slipcovers made for my club chairs. Read all about my Family Room redo HERE. Fortunately I had enough fabric left to use for the skirting.

Here is the chair before…(not pasta friendly!)

And here is the slipcover after! Large enough to handle any spill and simple to throw in the wash!!

I love the back – I didn’t want any ties.

The hidden Velcro does the trick of keeping it neat and in place.

The bench also needed a bit of covering up. As much as I loved the Antique printed grainsack I bought from Kym Fraser of 3 Fine Grains, it was much too valuable to be stained with hot fudge!

A quick call to my dear friend, Wendy Lewis of Textile Trunk, and a more reasonably priced antique grainsack was on its way. We took out the stitching on both sides, sewed in the corners and added the ties. Look closely and you can see the fold (that was the bottom of the sack) still in the cover.

An indestructible and beautiful slipcover!! You can also see the chairs with their new, pretty dresses peeking through!

The lighting was not the best when I took the picture this afternoon, but I wanted to show you how wonderful the new slips look in the Breakfast Room!

Sometimes it seems daunting to live with linen or all white furniture. Slipcovers are the secret! Your kids can eat hot fudge and still live in a beautiful room without worry.

Do click HERE to see the wonderful new stock of antique fabrics available from Wendy at Textile Trunk. She just got back from Europe and you will go crazy!! And get ready to see some kitchens I have been working on, some reader’s renovations I am thrilled to share and some more personal and professional projects I am starting for the Fall!!

So happy to be back!!

(all photos and content copyrighted by Willow Décor and not to be copied with out written permission)

A Maine Coastal Jewel By Linda Banks

Designer and architect, Linda Banks, has been creating some of my favorite coastal homes for many years. She just sent on to me one of her recently completed projects to share with you. Once again Linda has created a wonderful ocean oasis for her clients in Maine.

On a spectacular property on the coast of Maine, Linda worked with her clients to create a shingled styled home from a new construction design. The goal was to create a casual feeling in a formal plan, but still retain the warmth and history of historic home. As such the home is filled with Linda's distinct attention to detail, including the client's antiques and collections, as well as nautical references of boats, fish and seashells, indigenous to the Maine coast.

The entryway above is a wonderful example of how Linda created the sense of history and age. The 24 foot hand hooked rug was custom designed with ships, lighthouses and other local references of Maine, sure to become a family heirloom. The bamboo bench is a beautiful reproduction and looks gorgeous with the framed hand tinted vintage map of the area.

The mudroom above provides a thoughtful location to keep everything in its place. With so many children and friends visiting the second home, this allows a wonderful spot for organization.

The dining and kitchen area above are designed in the classic New England tradition with white cabinets and blue/black granite counters. Wonderful slate floors, and butlers chairs create the perfect compliment of old and new.

The living room is the most formal room in the house. Linda used a beautiful palette of whites and creams and several classic pieces from Hickory Chair. Chairs are slip covered in Belgian Linen and the hand hooked rug was custom designed. The painting is by Stephen Bach.

The octagonal family room is part of a three level octagonal wing which captures the incredible ocean views . Above this room is the master bedroom, and above that is the client's home office which you will see in the photos below. Lovely shades of blue enhance the ocean views.

The master bedroom continues the soothing soft palette of gray blues, creams and whites.

The attic office provides the most spectacular views. Created to mimic the inside of a sailing yacht all the furniture is built in. Notice the beautiful ceilings.

The master bath is an oasis with cast iron tub perfectly positioned to capture the ocean views.

One of the boys rooms with signature Banks Designed horizontal panelling called "nickel gap", because the boards are spaced a nickel's width apart - common in ship building. The blue tone really brings a richness to the room.

The boys bathroom provide a space for each child. Nautically inspired lights and a whimsical whale rug bring a youthfulness to the space.

Another bedroom on the third floor located in the wonderful attic boasts arched casement windows. The zinc topped table was designed by Linda and her shop, Simply Home.

Another bath is awash is beautiful pale blues and marble. The mirrors are custom designed by Linda and also available through Simply Home.

The Maine coastal home is another wonderful example of Linda Banks' beautiful work and attention to details that make a house into a home. For more information on this house and to read the full article in Maine Home and Design click here. For information on Linda Banks Design click here. Finally to browse Linda's wonderful store Simple Home click here.
Thank you Linda for another fabulous home tour!

Blue Ceiling Beach Cottage

My friend and wonderful photographer, Jamie Salomon of Salomon Photography, recently sent me photos of this beautiful beach cottage in Maine. The home is the spectacular retreat of designer, Francine O'Donnell

The home has a traditional beach house decor with a bit of whimsy. I love the stools and the center island. What is most striking to me is the color palette. Take a look at this kitchen - taupe/beige cabinets and trim with creamy walls, but the most interesting is the soft blue ceiling. An area often overlooked - so let's have a closer look ceilings in this beach cottage.

Here is the kitchen from another angle. The ceiling color is much paler in this shot. This is a common occurrence when you use pale colors, in some lights the color actually washes out. With ceilings my preference is always to go on the paler side. I like to feel the color with out getting overwhelmed by it.

Here is a closer shot of the same space and you can see the blue ceiling more strongly. I love the whimsical signs - this particular sign adds such personality to the kitchen. Vintage style light fixtures and pale floors also add to the ambiance.

Moving to the family room we again see the use of blue on the ceilings. Notice how the color does not make the ceiling seem lower, but actually makes the ceiling almost disappear.

The same room from a different angle. You can see the patch of blue (like the sky) in the top left side of the photo. Again the SEA letters, life ring and assorted wood signs add a happy lightness to the room. I adore the beadboard walls. Also notice the slanted wall area - often times it is painted to match the ceiling - in this case it would have been a mistake. Keeping it white allows your eye to travel up and adds a feeling of openness to the space.

Here is the Family Room again from another angle. I love the slouchy softness of the big throw covering the chair. This a room where you can really kick back and relax.

The upstairs hallway continues with blue ceilings. Also notice the gray/blue painted floors. I love the doors - clearly they are original to the house.

A peek into the bath - which seems to have white ceilings but wonderful sea glass green walls. More of this beautiful home to come next time!!

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But for now just a quick tour of a great beach cottage which was enhanced by painting a space often overlooked - the ceiling. Have any of you taken on the ceiling??

(all photos Salomon Photography not to be copied with out permission)

Sheer Bliss

(l.pasquier)

I have always been enamoured with sheers. I love the romance and natural light they let into a room.

(National Curtain Company)

They soften hard lines and provide a beautiful fluid motion from a breeze. Here is wonderful example of antique shutters which are enhanced and softened by the striped sheers.

(o. disegno)

When the light is right, sheers can create an incredible romance in a room. Even a room that is dark can be brightened with sheers. I included the room above to show, though dark, how even a north facing room can benefit from the natural light.
(Southern Accents)
When I was twenty and in my first apartment I bought a huge mosquito netting to hang from the ceiling over my mattress which sat on the floor. I did not even own a bed then! I envisioned myself chic like Mata Hari. This picture is much better example of what I was trying to achieve back then. This Niermann Weeks beds is gorgeous with the gathered sheers. Isn't this so romantic?
(c. everad)
This canopy is taunt - creating a much more sophisticated and contemporary feeling. This is a simple and inexpensive way to add the romance of sheers to your four poster bed.
(l.pasquier)
The sheers here create a wonderful juxtaposition to the cold lines of the metal bed. Even in spare rooms such as this, sheers add a layer of softness. If you pull them closed you create a romantic room with in a room. (s. lane)
But sheers can used outdoors to create a room as well. Here we see this lovely dining area become a spectacular outdoor oasis.
(s. lane)
They can also make sweet slipcovers. Here these embroidered sheer slipcovers soften the lines of the french bistro chair.
(c. everad)
You may remember this photo from a post I did on the popular Ghost chair - you can read about it here. Even slipcovered the Ghost chair retains its ethereal qualities.
(p. mitchell)
The bath is another area where we are seeing sheers used. I love them as a shower curtain in this space because they provide privacy with out visually dividing the room. Here they are in soft shade of lavender.
(s. lane)
This sheer shower curtain boasts wonderful ribbon embellishments. Also notice the beautiful table slipcover.
(s. lane)
But sheers are not limited to white, here a wonderful turquoise linen provides privacy, as well as the color accent in this room.
(r. hammick)
Sheers can also provide the pattern in the room. The light enhances these beautiful floral sheers

(julia clare company)

Finally these striped sheers provide a private resting area on an outdoor veranda.

Where do you like to use sheers?

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