moodboard tuesday: hamptons home

This moodboard is for my mom. A while back, I mentioned my parents' search for a vacation home in Orlando. My mom is hoping to reuse what she can, keeping the design simple, eclectic and comfortable. I suggested a Hamptons-style space full of weathered fabrics, worn paint and neutral patterns.
For the record, I'm pretending my parents don't have a budget because it's way more fun that way. In reality, I'm guessing my mom will figure out a way to pull the same look off without breaking the bank.

The color
Neutral colors with various patterns will keep the space feeling fresh, relaxed and comfortable. Layering will help add texture the space without adding warmth. Accent colors would be displayed in lamps, pillows and a feature piece of furniture like the TV console (actually a buffet). It makes the space feel a little more eclectic and less predictable than color coming from fabrics.

CHALLENGE: Try adding color in your home through accessories like a side table, shelving or even a bookcase. Make sure it's something you'd like to feature and watch the room start to come together around it!

The furniture
A sofa table would be used in replace of the side table, tying the dining room and living room together without adding more bulk to the sides of the sectional. Furniture style would be sleek yet rustic, playing off the geometric patterns of the fabric while keeping the space feeling lived-in and inviting.

The accessories
With this being a vacation home, accessories will likely be minimal and very sparse to prevent frequent dusting. Instead, large vintage-looking decor was chosen to add visual interest, fit in with the rest of the decor and, again, make the space feel like it has a history.

The sources
sectional sofa: crate and barrel
throw pillows: west elm
rug: ikea
coffee table: world market
sofa table: world market
tv console: the lady peacock via etsy
spheres: west elm
curtains: crate and barrel
lamps: pottery barn

go mom: gray washing a desk

Tada! Look at how awesome my mom is. But first, the part fairy tale part DIY story.

One day, while my mom was visiting me in Cincinnati, we made the trek up to Ikea in search of goodies. We headed up the elevator to the show room and that's where it happened. Love at first sight between my mom and a Hemnes sofa table. She fell so hard for it that it was almost like being the third wheel on a first date. The way my mom was staring at it, she was getting that sofa table. No questions asked.

Hemnes Sofa Table, gray-brown

Then something weird happened. Instead of pulling out the little slip for pick up, my mom pulled out her phone and started taking pictures. "I love that finish", she said, "I think I can refinish some of my furniture so I can get the same look". 

What? No Hemnes? I was dumbfounded and sort of impressed at the same time. My mom just pulled out a DIY opp. 

We left Ikea with a pile full of random gadgets and left the Hemnes for someone else. And my mom went home in search for something to gray wash which in, in this case, was my old This End Up desk. Here is a before I dug up online.

This End Up

She gave the entire desk a light sand and then applied even coats of Sherwin Williams Pickled White wood stain in 3132 Beechwood until reaching the desired shade. Finally, to finish, she applied one coat of MinWax Clear Satin Polyurethane.

My mom's a little nervous that it looks blue but, as you'll see from the pictures I think it's just the carpet. Eventually, this snappy little number will move into my parent's future vacation home which is a sea of cream carpet and white walls. I'm thinking the nerves will ease themselves once it gets down there. 

Making Orlando our Hamptons.

This just in: My parents (hi dad!) may be the proud owner of a vacation home near Orlando, Florida. With my brother living and working in Orlando, it made the most sense to purchase there (real estate is really cheap there right now) vs. spending money on hotels, rental cars, etc. And with the property being right on a golf course and only 45 minutes away from a beach and my brother, it's got our family written all over.

The problem? It's white on white on off-white. Very bland. Very boring.

Since this is a vacation home, I started talking myself into liking the idea of a very muted vacation space and eventually somehow started comparing my parents vacation home to one in the Hamptons.

Stop. Now hear me out.

A Hamptons style home is, in my opinion, what all vacation homes should strive to look like. Not in size but in style. The homes are sophisticated, clutter-free, classic and most importantly... THEME FREE. Here are some Hampton homes that have caught my eye and showcase some of signature design elements that makes a Hamptons home the envy of all other vacation homes.

eclectic furniture collection

(flickr)

neutral color palette with choiceful accessories

(splendid willow)

lots of natural light

(splendid sass)

multiple textures and washes

(sweet as a candy)

clean lines with a balance of whim and structure

(pampelmousse design inc.)

classic and functional

(country living)