Centralized Charging Station {Kitchen}

Please tell me that I'm not the only one with this going on in their kitchen or some other central place in your house....

Phones, chargers, pens, radios, papers, etc.  Drives me crazy.  

I started looking at charging stations such as this, but nothing was really working for me.  So I sketched up a quick plan and Handy Hubby took on the task...

And now we have this...

It holds our phone chargers, pens and pencils, our Tivoli radio, and even some paper under the hinged top where the radio sits.  Everything plugs into a power strip which is inside at the bottom. I chose to paint it the same color as our trim (Sherwin Williams Toque White)

It's about a million times better than where we came from...

Of course Handy Hubby and I are considering how we would improve this for version 2.0.  Maybe a place for paper, an iPad, and possibly a variation on the phone holder.  We'll keep you posted!

Doorways Safehouse: Basement En Suite {Casa Mila Design}

Heather Latteier of Casa Mila Design volunteered to help redesign the final bedroom in the Doorways safehouse project (more posts about the Doorways safe house project here).  Heather is relatively new to Arlington so it was a great way for her to get involved in the community a bit.  

Heather has worked all over the country including California, Utah, and Arizona.  Here are a few samples of her previous beautiful projects - 

Heather redesigned the smallest bedroom in the house and includes a bed with a trundle and an adjoining tiny bathroom.  

Heather focused on some fantastic new bedding and art on the walls.

Heather updated the back of the built-ins with some amazing contact paper (yes, contact paper!).  And that bedding... cannot get enough!  The wall color is Benjamin Moore 2149-50 Mellowed Ivory, color matched to Sherwin Williams paint.  

Thanks Heather!  

Doorways Safehouse: Dorm Room {Residents Understood}

The Doorways project recap continues today with an introduction of Jessica Centella and Kiera Kushlan of Residents Understood.  Jessica took the lead as the main contact on our project and she has been a joy to work with!  I cannot say enough good things about them.

Here are some samples of their recent work

They quickly volunteered (much to my surprise) to take on the dorm room in the basement of the safe house.  This room is an awkward room with low ceilings, and many challenges -  the largest of which is that 5 people can live in this space at one time and these people may or may not be related.  Five strangers sharing a room under stressful circumstances.... tough.  It was going to take a lot of money to make this place into a real home.

They presented us with an amazing design which everyone was very quickly excited about!

They used white and black as their anchor colors and then highlighted the space with bright colors.  In fact, each person now has their own color coded armoire and nightstand.  Ingenious.  Brace yourself for these "after" pictures...

Yes, this is the same space... I know.  To save you some flipping, here are some before and afters:

Before

After

And one more...

Before

After

Congratulations Jessica and Kiera! The space is amazing and you should be really proud.  Check out more information about the sources on their blog.

Doorways Safehouse: Bunk Bedroom {Studio K}

The Doorways safehouse project (catch up on more posts here) has been an amazing experience, and I think all of the designers also got a lot out of it.  I first met Kate Fallon of Studio K about three years ago when my home was part of the annual Tuckahoe Home & Garden Tour, and she came to take pictures for the tour book.  At that time, she was focused on helping people get window treatments but now she has a full-scale design firm.  It would be hard to find a nicer person!

Kate has worked for several of my friends to create beautiful and comfortable spaces.

Kate took on the second bedroom on the main floor.  This was probably my least favorite room in the upstairs before Kate got a hold of it.  

                         

Those sad unused curtain rod holders and the general lack of meaningful storage compounded with a somewhat unpleasant green.  We moved the bunk bed from the other bedroom on this floor to this room.  Kate was a trooper and took that extra bed with a smile on her face!  

Happily, the room is completely transformed now into an amazing space!

I cannot resist a before and after in this room...

Before

After

Can you believe that? It's hard to believe that is the same space. So calming and beautiful  Even with an added bunk bed set, it is so amazing.  The striped wall was an genius idea which could be recreated in any number of spaces in your own home.  The picture over the left bed really helps keep your eye focused away from the bunk beds.  Thanks Kate!!