Sunday, November 20, 2011

TRANSFORMATION...

Several months ago, I posted here on my blog that I was having another of my home sales...

I received a request for the address from someone I will call "E". She said she had been following my blog for a while, and that she had recently moved from Las Vegas to Mt. Dora, FL. 

I gladly gave her the address and looked forward to meeting her.

And then, a little later that evening, I received another email from her. She wanted to know if I would consider letting her hire me to re~style her home. I had to think about this...

for all of five seconds...

And the rest is history.

I recently completed the project, which was done in stages...

First the kitchen and second bathroom, then the sunroom and so on until I had revamped the entire house.

The challenge was to use only what she had. 

Let me tell you she had a lot.

That's the other part of the story, you see. A transformation of not just the house "E" calls home, but of "E" as well.

To edit a home much too full of things. To give a sense of peace to chaos. To let her treasures take center stage so that she could breathe again.

Now I must preface the rest of the story with a few facts.

* The house is a rental, so only cosmetic changes could be made.
* I did each room on the fly. I arrived, I edited and then re~introduced pieces. There was no real planning process. Each room, and sometimes two, went from start to finish that day.
* Finally, this project was a real departure from my personal style and anything you have ever seen here on this blog. I am not a color person. I am not a clutter person. "E" embraces color and lots of it, and she loves stuff. My goal was to give her both but with a sense of knowing when there was "just enough".

With all that said, here are the before and after pics. I must warn you that a couple are a little less than perfect, in fact they are downright blurry. But they are integral to the transformation, so I hope you will overlook the less than stellar photography skills they portray.

First up, the kitchen. 

"E" hates the kitchen as it has been modernized to the point of looking completely disjointed from the rest of the house. We removed a couple of cabinet doors to take your eye away from the slick cabinets and dark counter tops and appliances.





and here is after...








The sunroom was the next room on the list. This room is a long bowling alley of a room, so I thought it best to divide it into a sitting area and a dining area with a transition in between.

Before.






and after.















Next we move on to the living room.

Before.





and after.










The hall, after. Sorry you would have needed a dramamine to see the one before pic. The pink and white cabinet was relocated here in place of a small table and large mirror.



The master bedroom before.

"E" did purchase the iron bed from me. The one exception to the rule...



and after...








On to the guest room we go. 

Before.




after.








and last but not least, the former office area off the guest room that "E" wanted as a garden sanctuary space.

Sorry, no before pics as this was an add on at the end of the project.






That's a wrap as they say. It was at the same time exhausting and one of the most satisfying things I have ever done. To give someone their peace back was fantastic. 

I'd like to thank my right hand man, Randy ("E's" handyman), for all his help hanging pictures and chandeliers. Her walls are concrete and without him this would never have had the finishing touches added.

I'd like to leave you with one last pic. Perhaps the most fitting of all. 

Thank you "E" for your confidence in me...




36 comments:

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

WOW, WOW, WOW!!
First, "E", has lovely things to work with! Love her style/decor!
2nd, you did an Awesome job of styling her things! Sure loved seeing the B&A!!! Makes me rethink some "stuff" in my home!
Deb

Ellie said...

I am the lucky gal who lives in this gorgeous home. Working with Shelley has been a pure delight. She listened to my inspirations, “shopped” my house, and incorporated my favorite things to create a peaceful environment for me. No matter what room I’m in, I am at peace in my new surroundings.

Sometimes we become so familiar with our style and belongings that we lose our perspective and creativity. Beautiful blogs and magazines can also clutter the mind. That’s what happened to me. I had followed Shelley’s blog long before moving to Florida last year. On a wishful whim I emailed her about staging/styling my house, with little hope she would accept. But, to my delight, she accepted this challenge.

Have a room that has become stale or boring to you? Why not give Shelley a call. Trust me, you will be amazed with what she can do. She is a visionary, dependable, fair, and very trustworthy. Not only will you love her, but will be delighted with the results.

Shelley, thanks so much for accepting this challenge. I now have a peaceful home surrounded by the things I love the most, and a new friend in you.

PS - My son thanks you, as well.



S-H-E-L-L-E-Y
S – Sweet as all get-out
H – Honors her client’s inspirations
E – Eye for unique design & vignettes
L – Love – Love – Love her vision
L – Loads of eye candy abound
E – Entrust your staging/designing to Sweet Pea
Y – You can’t go wrong with Shelley ! ! !

High Street Cottage said...

Shelly...Wow!!! My first look at the home, my thoughts were , that's not Shelly's home, so happy I read on!
You must not only be exhausted but feeling fit after all that work! Amazing job, so pulled together now. My one question...can you come to my house hehe

sweetpea said...

ellie, you are so sweet and unbelievably kind. i enjoyed every minute of transforming your home and putting all your favorite things front and center for you to enjoy. i wish you peace and tranquility from this day forward.

hugs my friend,

shelley

Susie~From My Home To Yours said...

Great job Shelley....and Ellie surely sounds pleased! This was a
'good thing' for both of you! I always find it fun to decorate outside of my style. I enjoy other's colors!
CYA
Susie

Debra@CommonGround said...

oh. my. gosh. You did an amazing job!! It's so easy to get stuck in a rut, and not know where to go. This is fabulous!

Angela said...

Shelley, you did such a great job.
Ellie, you have so many wonderful things. I especially love the chippy painted pieces and all the pottery!
Thanks for the home tour. I loved it!!

Jenny said...

Amazing! Not my colors either! I actually use much BRIGHTER colors! LOL! You did an amazing job!

Gracie's Cottage said...

Ellie you have wonderful things and Shelley did a marvelous job helping you pull it all together in a different way...hooray for both of you!

Jan

Anonymous said...

Shelley and Ellie, the dynamic duo! Great job Shelley, I knew it would be fabulous and it is. Lovely!

Heaven's Walk said...

BEAUTIFUL, Shelley!!!!!! A job well done, girlie! :)

xoxo laurie

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Wow, you did a great job!!! She had some fabulous pieces, I love all of the rose pictures and how you arranged them, I bet that was a blast!

Carol

BECKY said...

Wow Shelley! You really knocked this one out of the park big time!! What a transformation! And kudos to Ellie for having so much cool stuff to work with! What a joy to look at all the photos!! You have a wonderful eye for beauty!!

Thanks for sharing!
Have a joyful Thanksgiving!
Hugs,
Becky

Shortbread and Ginger said...

Wow - amazing! Well done! The house is now a home.
Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

trash talk said...

Wonderful job of editing and edifying Shelley. Her collections (especially the white pottery) really stand out now. I bet you and her are pretty proud of yourselves...and should be. It's lovely and flowing...just as a home should be.
Deb

Anonymous said...

Great job. I really like the guest bedroom and that blue cupboard is beautiful.

It is true that sometimes we just get kind of stuck. It helps to have someone come in with an open mind and clear vision.
Kathy

Sylvia said...

Wow Shelley, you have a calling for redecorating!!!~It ALL looks beautiful...

Happy Thanksgiving,
Sylvia

HillHouse said...

My favorite thing in the world is to see before and after transformations. It never ceases to amaze me how things can be transformed and repurposed simply by moving them around and giving a continuity to the space. Thank you for sharing the gift that you have been given.

Debbie Burkey said...

Great Job! Everything looks so well done. I love the way you arranged all the rooms! Ellie has wonderful things and you did them proud!

Tracy said...

how on earth did you manage such a beautiful trawould so nsformation. I love you to come and make my house this amazing well done

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

Ellie your home is so warm and inviting now...you had some great pieces to work with! Bravo Shelley! Thanks for sharing!!

Vicki said...

Ellie's home is gorgeous! She had some great pieces for you to work with too. Shelley, it is gorgeous. You are a gifted stylist

Carole said...

All I can say is you are a miracle worker! This could and should be in a magazine. You have found a new calling. Room transformer! better then any HGTV show I've ever seen!

x
Carole

trump said...

I'm just stopping by new blogs and thought id leave a comment. Id like to wish you and your readers a very Happy Thanksgiving and the memories that go along with it. Richard from Amish Stories.

Gray Branches said...

Inspiration again!
Once again you've inspired & amazed me with your jaw dropping talent. Was following you for quite some time before we "offically" met. Was great to see you on Friday... yes I'm an idot for passing on the leather chair! Sigh... Hope you are feeling better.. Keep doing what u do!

much luv & hugs

Debbi

Jill said...

Wonderful!
xo
Jill

Rebecca said...

Kudo's Shelley! You did a great job, the house looks fantastic. And by the sound of Ellie's comment she is a happy camper. You are the best anyway.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving
Blessings
Rebecca

Rebekah said...

Wow! Wish you were in Texas, I'd love for you to restyle/redecorate my home. You have a great eye -

rememberwhenfarm said...

All I can say is WOW !!!!!!!!!, can you come to my house and I think you need a TV show on HGTV!!!!!!! AWESOME, LOVE IT !!!!!!

The Old Painted Cottage said...

Shelley, this is an amazing transformation indeed! I love your eye for detail. You are simply amazing my friend!

oxox
Jennifer

Anonymous said...

Say there Lady E,

What a lovely place...I can't wait to come see it!!

Love
DV

Lauri Evans said...

Wow! this was a huge job, but turned out amazing. I bet she loves it now! L

Lisa said...

Shelley,
What a great post! I love that you took the challange to work only with what she had & do it all in a style opposite of your own. She had great things to pull from. E must be over the moon excited, it looks absolutly amazing! If you ever get over to Hurst let me know:)
I just re-did my whole house this month. The Dallas Morning News contacted me about doing my house for the style section during Christmas. OMG, My husband & I have worked so hard. I channeled my inner Shelley & think it turned out pretty good. Still it would have been an awesome treat to have you here doing it!
Lisa

Anonymous said...

Stunning! Hi, my name is Yvette and "E" is my amazing mother in-law. I was witness to the "before", and I can honestly say the transformation is amazing!
I hope to go over soon so I can lounge in the sunroom with a glass of wine ;) It's just so inviting!
Congratulations to you both on a job WELL done!

flowers on my table said...

Wow you clever girl, what a monumental task, and you executed it with such panache. I am sure your client was 'over the moon!'Love Linda x

Anonymous said...

Having known E for a long time, I know that she is enjoying her new found peace thanks to Shelley. It will be wonderful is visit her magazine worthy home.

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