Like I mentioned before, in the survey (which is still open for responses in case you haven’t had time yet) many of you asked me to share the process of decorating my apartment. I promise, there’s not much to share at this point. I sold almost everything that was in current rotation before we left Delaware. So our current apartment is pretty full (read: slightly overflowing) of vintage pieces that need major TLC and other sort of mismatched items. I’m SO ready to get moving on my own house though, that I’m committing myself to at least one home project a week. The plan is to share these with you every Friday. I know you’re just as happy to see the process as seeing the pretty ‘after’ images, so thanks for hanging in there with me while I show you my less-than-perfect spaces.
So, for our first project, why not start with the entry?
We live in a sort of industrial building that’s zoned for live/work (great for taxes and getting commercial address shipping rates!). It’s definitely not a luxury building with a fancy lobby (though I do like the art installation in our lobby). And we don’t have a doorman – that’s what that telecom thing is on the wall next to the door. It’s how we buzz visitors in.
The last tenant owned a real estate brokerage firm that had only five or six employees that worked here during the day and then he slept here at night. You can see the end of one of his conference tables in this shot. This is the beforest of before shots – from the first walk through.
Remember this dresser that I’m using as a console? I found it right before we left Delaware. It was $20 at Canterbury Antiques. It was not cute in its before state – it was that nasty yellowy cream that they loved to use on bedroom sets in the 50’s and 60’s.
Sadly, it sat untouched in our entry for the first couple of months. Finally, at Christmas time, I busted out the paint quarts already in my stash and decided on this pretty emerald green color. I thought it was Ralph Lauren, but it’s actually a Behr color, called Billiards Table. It’s really pretty. One of my new favorite colors.
Some of you have asked about where I do my projects now that we live in an apartment. I do most of my painting in the office area on top of two canvas drop cloths with the windows open. I haven’t done any spray painting this winter, but when the weather is nicer, I can do painting projects up on our roof. It’s sort of a pain to move things around, but whatever, it’s not that big of a deal.
If you remember from my post about our floor plan, there is a wall of windows on one side of our apartment and that’s all we’ve got for natural light. So it’s pretty dark up here by the entry at most times of the day. It was really hard to get a shot of the newly painted console that reflects the true color. This one is the closest to real life.
Do you know what I recently started using and loving? Ralph Lauren Regent Metallic paints. I had a quart of Parlor Gold (a really bright gold color) and used a damp rag to sort of wipe on a bit of the gold paint on the hardware, just to brighten things up. I also touched up the giant wall mirror, which I got at Brimfield a couple years ago for $50.
You can see one of my vintage pieces in need of help there to the left. It’s a really pretty wing back chair (it looks a lot like this one) that I need to reupholster. Today I was trying out Kelly Wearstler’s Katana and I think I like it.
My favorite painting is hung above the chair. Around the corner I put up a couple of these Anthropologie hooks that I got on sale.
The leopard rug is the newest addition to the space. I LOVE it. It’s from Ballard and its indoor/outdoor.
Things about the entry that need to change:
– The lamp needs a new harp so that the shade fits right. It’s too low right now. (PS I got this Blanc de Chine lamp for $1 at Spence’s Flea Market in Dover! The shade is a pretty gray burlap, I got it at Target a couple months ago)
– I bought that artwork with the coral matting at a great store in Williamsburg called Junk. That store needs it’s own post. It’s really amazing. Back to the artwork though, I mostly bought it for the mat and the frame. It was like $8 or something so I didn’t feel guilty. I think I’m going to take the watercolor out and replace it with something more modern and with different colors.
– Maybe switch up the boxes on the tabletop for something different. At the very least I might paint the woven box.
– Tomorrow I’m going to Target and hope to pick up one of these great copper boot trays in the Smith and Hawken aisle.
– All of our tall umbrellas broke. I need to get a couple more for our monogrammed umbrella stand.
– We need a fun overhead light fixture. Probably a flush mount, since the huge dining room chandelier will be less than 10 feet from the entry. (ah, city living!) I wish my budget could expand to fit this Visual Comfort star light.
– I’m considering wallpaper. I’d have to get creative about how and where to stop the paper, since I wouldn’t want to do the entire north wall, which runs the length of the apartment.
Looking great! You live in Fin. District don't you. We are going to look at a couple of places there tomorrow. Do you like it?
YAY! Jenny's back! Whoot Whoot! Looks beautiful, Jenny. I love it all. That rug is so great!
Nicole, we're sort of north of the financial district. It's great downtown. I'm sure you'll love it.
Thanks, Anon. I love the rug too!
Love what you did with that chest, the color is beautiful and the the contrast with the yellow and coral is fantastic :)
Everytime I read one of your apartment posts, I get so jealous!! Your apartment is already looking so fabulous and I LOVE the colour of your dresser- also adoring the leopard rug. Beautiful all around!
You have such a great eye for color. I love that console! Looks so great with that rug (I just put it in my shopping cart on Ballard's website!)
THANK YOU!!!
I can't believe you found that blanc de chine lamp for $1. That's insane. Thinking I need a road trip to delaware!!!
Great post Jenny! I love seeing how you bring a room together. You mix seemingly disparate pieces so well. And then I take a step back and try and understand why your composition is so appealing… and I see how your tulips pick up on your coral mat and the coral tones in your favourite painting! Same with the black & white accessories. You make it all look so effortless. And beautiful of course!
Love the post and pics…especially your console table!
Lovely! I would also love that chest painted a deep navy or licorice. Your entry looks so welcoming.
pve
The color of the table is gorgeous and goes so well with all the gold. So beautiful!! And I can't believe that great lamp was only $1! What!
I'm a long time lurker, first time commenting but I had to say that I LOVE that color you used on the dresser/console!
How exciting! Love it!
Jenny you are a design genius. It never looks like you are trying too hard. That's what I love the most about you.
Thanks for listening to our survey responses and posting more of your process. These are truly my favorite posts. Looking forward to next week!!
jenny…yes! i love it! that color on the dresser is fabulous. and the lamp….ahhh….so great. thanks for the update!
I love that you put a burlap shade on that lamp. I never would have mixed styles like that, but I love what it does for the whole look, adding that texture!
GREAT JOB, as always.
xxooxx
Sara Greene
that entry table is absolutely GORGEOUS. and for $20! i'm so incredibly jealous!!!
i *lurve* it!!!
I really like your style, the colors are so fun! We have some of the Ballard rugs in our hallway and I love them too – the kids mess them up and I just rinse them off in the bathtub (plus they are cheap!). :)
I'm loving your blog since finding it. This post is fantastic,and I agree with the comment that your style seems to be effortless. The color on the chest is a knock out.
it looks so great! I love the color on the dresser!!
Oh, Jenny, this is gorgeous! How can you say this space is not finished!? If it was in my house, I would be calling the magazines! Come and see my beautiful entry!!!
Love it.
I have 2 of those copper boot trays from Target, one for the front door and one for the back and I love them! So cute and also great for containing all the snow and salt that we track inside all winter.
It looks amazing! I want the chine de blanc lamp. I have been wanting one for a long time. I can't believe you found one for $1. Incredible! Great job.
I love long and thoughtful Jenny posts! Back in the saddle, indeed!
The color on the dresser is just fabulous! Looking forward to seeing all of your apartment posts.
Love it! You never cease to amaze me with how you can take "trash" and make it a treasure in an elegant treasure trove!
I have been lurking every day since before your move and have probably read through every single post you have written since you started your blog, just passing the time, waiting for you to start posting projects again. Needless to say, I was so happy to see your post today. I find your ability to turn so-so items into treasures so inspiring!
Beautiful, Jenny! Classic you :)
I need to work on finding a place for some leopard in my house. . . Can't wait to see more.
Look great!
have a nice weekend.
Teresa
Wow, Jenny. This is incredible! You are blowing me away here! I CANNOT wait to see what else you've got up your sleeve.
You are my favorite blogger and designer. You have such a FUN sense of style! It's like effortless, but still on-trend. And COLORFUL! Makes me happy. And it must make you smile to come home to every night!
Keep it coming! Love it!
LEOPARD!!! Love it! Must have it!
Lovely! You've given me the furniture painting bug!
Love love love!! Your style is truly fabulous, thanks for sharing your work-in-progress!
So good to have you back. I am really looking forward to the Friday posts now! You've got great stamina!
I love the color of the table and I think you have given me inspiration in my own home!
She's BA-ACK!!!
Love it all.
What type of paint did you use on the piece? I just noticed that it didn't look like you sanded it before painting, so I was curious. Love the entryway! It is fabulous….as all your designs are!
Brooke, the paint is latex semi-gloss. I didn't really need to sand it. I just cleaned it really well and did multiple, light coats with drying time in between. Works like a charm every time.
xx
UGH. I love/hate you. You make everything seem so easy! "Oh, this entry? I just threw it together today. No biggie." :)
I wish you could come over to my place and just throw the whole thing together!!
Hugs from Australia.
Shannon
I just love everything you've done. The color you picked for the dresser is absolutely perfect! Love the painting too!!
Thank you for posting that survey and for taking into consideration our thoughts!! I've always enjoyed this blog, so I think it will be even better! Love your home, would love to live in an urban apartment. So different from my suburban ranch home.
I love this entryway. Love it.
Bravo! I feel so indulged with this post! I think I like your own projects for many reasons. 1) It feels so real and not distant and out of reach so I can live vicariously through you. 2) I like most of your readers just adore you and love to see your life. 3) Your ideas are so awesome, inspiring, and helpful and I love seeing a project that is 100% you without client input. The dresser is my fave. I love how you bring it all together. The mixture of colors, patterns, and textures is such eye candy! Is Evie walking now? I can't even imagine her that grown up!!
xoxo
I have to admit that I had my doubts when you said you were going to paint that dresser green in a previous post, but my god, it is GORGEOUS! I love everything about your entry…the colors, the rug, the artwork. Can't wait to see more!
love your blog. truly. one thing i especially enjoy about your style is the use of color! you blend colors in ways i never thought of…but in the end product, it always works. what an inspiration you are!
Thank you for your wonderful inspriation! I enjoy reading your blog daily, thank you for your wonderful work for us to read!
I think the mirror is gorgeous and I totally enjoy the mixture of styles.
LOVE it! So much inspiration in your own home :) Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for the tip about the paint! I will have to try it out soon!