...Have You Heard The News

 

 

 

There is a new owner of Sara Benjamin's!!  Amie Fanta has recently acquired new ownership of the fabulous Sara Benjamin's in the heart of Mariemont.  Amie is a Mariemont resident who is lovely and eloquent.  This matched with her keen sense of fashion and business will take something that was already great to an even higher level. 

 

One of the first places she started, a remodel of the boutique.  So when she called me to help, I of course was more than happy!  She is going for a more shabby chic look.  I shopped and found her a antique oak chest of drawers for display and some extra storage.

 

Amie will have an unveiling of the new Sara Benjamin's.  Make sure to follow Sara Benjamin's on Facebook (just click on the link) and you won't miss out on anything!  Not on facebook, not a problem - check in on the Sara Benjamin's website .

 

Before picture of the oak chest.

 

 

 

 

After ~ Painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in the color Pure White.  The existing hardware was really cool but not the right color so I just painted it.  Lots of distressing to bring out the shabby look we were going for.  Just LOVE this piece!  Glad it didn't go far:)

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Day All!! 

 

Keri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



...Vintage R-Way Makeover - Out The Door!

This piece was just delivered.  This project started when my client sent me a few inspiration pictures and some measurement requirements and I started looking.  I call this "custom shopping".  This has become pretty popular with East Street clients!  Makes perfect sense - you see something you love, you call me to find it and you customize the details. 

 

This is a vintage piece of R-Way furniture.  R-Way Furniture Company made pieces from the late 1800's until they stopped production in the early 1990's.  I scored this from a sweet older woman off Craigslist.  The finish on the outside was dated but the inside looked almost brand new and this piece is VERY solid.

 

 

 

I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in the color French Linen.  This color has been very popular.  Its a warm grey with a touch of brown.

 

 

My client had some beetle knobs she had purchased from Anthropologie that she was hoping to use.  This piece was going into a room that her 2 young boys share.  We searched for hardware that we liked that went with the beetles and found nothing.  The hardware length was longer than most so we didn't have a ton of choices.

 

 

So I decided to spray paint the drawer pulls and the beetles.  I used Rust-Oleum in Antique Bronze.  It is so easy to spray paint hardware.  The hammered finish comes out perfect.  You can not tell its spray paint!!

 

 

And the finished product.

 

 

 

Best,

Keri

 

 

 

 



...Super Easy - How To Make An Inspiration Board

I always love when I come across an inspiration board.  You see them on Pinterest a ton for fashion.  Pulling together the outfit - with the shoes, hand bag and accessories.  Since fashion is not my thing, I am often surprised at how much I love outfits that I would never think to pull together.  And this is why inspiration boards are going to be a huge help for me.  My typical client is looking for my advice because decorating is usually not their thing.  Whether, I am called in to paint a piece of furniture or re-design a whole space, I always need to get my vision across to my client.  And now things just got a whole lot easier!  I posted how excited I was to learn this new task on ESD's facebook page.  Many of you contacted me with "how to" questions.  I am hoping this will help.

 

 

 

I looked into figuring this out over a year ago and everything I found pointed me in the direction of photoshop.  I am not well versed in photoshop.  So, I turned my nose up and moved on.  I use Picasa to edit my photo's and download them onto my blog.  Picasa is a free photo editing tool by Google.  It is super easy to use!  You can download it here very easily if you don't already have it.

 

~The first thing you want to do is save any image you want on your board to your hard drive. 

 

~Next, you want to open your Picasa account and save the images onto Picasa.  When you <left click> on the image from your hard drive it will enlarge it.  Then you <right click> and it will give you the option to <Edit in Picasa>.

 

~After clicking <Edit in Picasa> it will automatically load the image into Picasa.  When images come from your hard drive they default into a folder. 

 

~Please note, you can have multiple folders if you use Picasa to load from your camera as well.  However, to put together a board they must all be in the same folder.  You can't pull images from multiple folders at one time. 

 

~ Now that the images are saved into Picasa - you are ready to make your board.  I call it an inspiration board but Picasa calls it a collage.

 

~Select the folder with the images you want to use.  It will then pull all the images up at one time.

 

~You then hold down your <Ctrl> key while you click on each image you want to use.

 

~Now that you have selected the images, click on the < create photo collage> icon at the top or bottom of the picture.

 

~It will put them all together onto the a board.  You can then move them around, layer them, turn them, enlarge or make smaller.  When you have it just as you want you will click on the <Create Collage> and it will save it and take the board to the editing tool. 

 

~The last step is to do any editing using the Picasa editing tools.  You can crop it, add text on the board along with mulitple other tools.  After you are done with that it should automatically be saved onto your Collage folder. 

 

~And your done....YAY!!!  You can email it out or into your drop box to go onto a blog. 

 

It really is super easy!!  Can't believe it was right in front of me all this time. 

 

 

 

The above board was used to help a client determine which kind of slipcover she liked for her dining room chairs.  The existing seats are fabric covered and I suggested white slip covers that could be easily removed and bleached(kid friendly).

 

The below board was used to help choose fabric and accessories for a master bedroom.

 



 

    

 

              Have fun using this new found tool!  And enjoy your weekend!

 

Thanks!
Keri

 

 

 

 

 



...I'm having a SALE!

 

My business has evolved and I am rolling with it, so to speak.  My original vision of ESD was somewhat different than it has turned out to be(and for that I am grateful).  I thought most of my business would be selling pieces that I had hunted as I pretended to be on my own version of American Pickers.  Then I would finish the piece on my own to sell to all of you.  It started off like that - but quickly I started seeing the need and want for what I call, custom work.  So many of you have pieces sitting around that have been passed down in your family or you found at a flea market and just don't know what to do with it.  That is where I come in.  And thanks to lots of happy clients who like to refer my services, I am busy.  I tend to book out at least a month in advance.  I have got mighty good at my scheduling.  Don't think I can't fit you in.  Just know its not a quick process.  But worth the wait!

 

    

I will do "Custom" work.

 

I will have pieces for sale on "Pick Your Paint" to customize.

 

I will "Shop" for you and find you a specific piece to customize.

 

I will offer "Interior Design Services"

 

 

Just no more of my own finished pieces.  So... I'm having a Sale!  I need to make room for larger pieces coming in.  This will be the last time you will find a piece of furniture of this quality for this low of a price at East Street Design. 

 

 

 

 

 

This piece is painted in a beautiful french blue and trimmed in white.  The drawers have been lined and clear crystal knobs replace the original.  The drawers are dovetail and the legs are gorgeous. 

update- this piece has sold

 

 

 

 

 

This piece has been painted in Paris Grey.  The original hardware was kept because the patina is to die for.  The drawers are of course dovetail.  The piece has amazing carved detail that was brought to life when it was distressed. 

Update - this piece has sold

 

These are quality, solid pieces that you would pay a fortune for in today's market.  You can go to Target or Ikea and pay more for something that has to be put together and doesn't even come close to the character that you will find here.

 

I need these pieces out of my inventory.  My loss is your gain.  Take advantage!!