April Stay Home - Free Designer for a Day (Vol. 2)

We’re back answering another follower question!

But first, we want to share that the follower with the curtain question from last week (click here to read Vol. 1) reached out to say she is in “love, love, love” with our recommendation. How awesome is that?!? It was an incredibly sweet email that brought us some true sunshine.

We have received tons more questions following last week’s blog post. And we promise we’re gonna get to them all. Maybe you want to subscribe to our blog…so you don’t miss out? The little “Subscribe to the Gray Oak Studio Blog” in the column on the right will do the trick. Wink, wink, smile.

For today, we’re answering just one question because it’s a very, very, very long answer. Enjoy.

Question: I have this terribly ugly and random room in the front of my house (don’t judge). It’s small (15x13) and has a staircase on one side and a gigantic piano on the other!! We have plans of getting rid of the piano (it’s kind of broken). Soooo...what do I do with this room? I’m assuming this would have been the dining room back in the day but we don’t need a dining room...so what do we “need?” I have been thinking about this for years...without any inspiration! 🤪 I’m willing to can everything and start fresh but don’t know how to begin! 

We love this question because it’s incredibly relatable. In New England, we have many Cape Cod and Colonial style homes with a small room at the front of the house for a formal dining room. Many home owners either don’t want a formal dining room or the home has been renovated in such a way that a different space is the dedicated dining area. So, what happens to that “bonus” space…that’s not incredibly big.

First, let’s look at some photos of the space.

Let’s talk through the positives of this room (always a great starting point). Whenever we approach a full room transformation, we want to call out all the positives to make sure we keep them in mind as we design. The windows look big and new and there’s great natural light. There are no weird/funky soffits or peculiar angles to hide or work around. It’s essentially a box, which is a wonderful (straightforward) room to decorate.

The next stop on our process is finding a purpose for the room - how will this family use the room? We asked some follow-up questions and decided that this will be an adult space…of some kind…where kids are welcome (aka nothing too precious). The “adult hangout” is the #1 answer of all our clients when we dig for the best use of their extra room. We are currently working on two of these type rooms! One is a Poker Room (!) and one is a Meditation Library (we chose this name…our clients graciously went with it). Other common ideas for an adult hangout space are a study, a faux sunroom (like a sunroom…not an actual sunroom), and a morning coffee and newspaper room (casual living room with no TV).

Next, let’s talk about any trade work we’ll want to recommend. First, this room needs some overhead light. It’s looking like there are zero ceiling lights. We recommend 4 recessed lights and an optional center light fixture. The highly technical mockup below shows the general idea (the lights are all too close together…but you get the general idea). The importance of a properly lit a room cannot be under estimated! It makes the room feel much bigger.

Next, we need a fresh coat of paint on these walls. The homeowner told us that the color palette in the rest of the house is gray, beige and navy (love it). So we recommend a super light greige for this room to really amplify the lovely natural light. Something like one of these guys - all by Benjamin Moore.

classic gray

calm

Balboa Mist

Now it gets fun. We’re gonna to show you three ways to furnish this room!

Option 1 - Faux Sunroom

We just love these cozy, coastal vibes. This feels like the perfect spot for tea and a magazine…as if anyone has time for that while they’re parenting/homeschooling/cleaning/working/worrying/eating too much ice cream. But, you can imagine how lovely it would be to sip Chai and read Architectural Digest (or US Weekly) here.

All of the prices in this entire post below are the “full price”, but almost all the items are currently ON SALE. Be sure to click through to the website to see ongoing discounted prices and promotion codes.

Sofa - $900

Armchair - Price varies by fabric selection

Coffee Table - $450

Side Table - $200

Rug - Price varies by size

Light Fixture - $99

Floor Lamp - $130

Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig - Price varies by size

Basket with Handles - Price varies by size

Navy Pillow Cover - $30

Candle in Brass Bowl - $40

Small faux potted plant - $20

Option 2 - Elevated Living Room

Next! A slightly elevated, but still casual and kid-friendly…when they’re invited…living room. This would be a morning coffee room or an afternoon book room or a glass of wine in a room with no TV.

Sofa - $1,550

Slipcovered Swivel Chair - $400

Wool Tufted Rug - Price varies by size

Coffee Table - $900

Side Table - $150

Floor Lamp - $90

Brass Mirror - $160

Blue and White Geometric Pillow - $30

Blue Lumbar Pillow - Price varies by size

Brass Textured Tray - $100

White ceramic candle - $13

Option 3 - Moody Study

And, last, but certainly not least, a moodier more masculine study. For this one, we recommend a darker wall color. Go all in on a dark palette!

Chelsea gray by Benjamin Moore

hale navy by bejnamin Moore

And then layer mid-dark tone everything - fabrics, leathers, wood.

Leather Club Chair - $900

Gray Sofa - Prices varies by fabric selection

Rug - Price varies by size

Coffee Table (it has a hidden drawer!!!) - $800

Black Side Table - $110

Floor Lamp - $300

Gray Cement Plant Stand - $140

Faux Eucalyptus - $45

Black Tray - $30

Brass Candle Bowl - $40

We’ll be back later this week with more follower questions and more Gray Oak answers.

- Leah

*this post contains affiliate links*

April Stay Home - Free Designer for a Day! (Vol. 1)

We are SO excited for today’s post!!!

If you’re new around here, let me first explain: For the month of April, we are answering ALL your design questions and even giving specific advice on your home (layout suggestions, wall color recommendations, furniture links…the whole kit and caboodle). It’s basically our “Designer for a Day” package. For free.

We’ve received so many questions and even more submissions for room makeovers (with photos and all)! And we’re still accepting more, so please email us at hello@grayoakstudio.com with whatever design dilemma you’ve been pondering. We’ll help. Promise.

Question: Where do you get all your vintage books?

You know how much we love using vintage books. This is part of our secret sauce. It feels a little like revealing the key ingredient in grandma’s recipe. But, we also want to share the joy of owning vintage books and support a local business, so here goes nothing: Used Book Superstore. There is one location in Middleton (our primary spot…they know us by name) and one location in Burlington. And once a week (Thursdays in Middleton) the entire vintage book section is 99 cents per book when you buy 10 or more. They are currently closed, of course, but you can support them by buying a gift certificate now and using it later when they reopen.

Vintage books are a critical part of our designs for several reasons. First, they’re beautiful. The texture and muted (from age) colors are amazing. Second, they bring history into a home. Even if your style is some version of modern, laying in found/vintage pieces adds character and interest. Third, they bring personality. We find hilarious titles or relevant titles (something about Boston) that speak to our clients.

Extra tip: We also get a lot of coffee table books at the Used Book Superstore. You can find some amazing, large scale books for a fraction of the price you would pay for a new version.

From our Enos Project

Question: Where are the frames from the gallery wall in your Lovell Project?

We got this question a lot this week after posting a photo one of our favorite vignettes of all time (below) on Instagram and Facebook.

From our Lovell Project

These frames are a mashup. We use wood gallery frames from Pottery Barn in the rustic color and replace the ivory mat that it comes with for a true white mat from Michaels. The black frame with the oversized mat is also from Pottery Barn.

And, while we’re on the subject of frames, the frames we used in our Dover Project are our favorite when using non-custom frames for larger scale art. They come as large as 32” x 26” without mat and 18” x 24” with mat.

From our Dover Project

Question: I have been trying to choose fabric for roman shades over my cafe shutters. I’m trying to stay away from too much red, and not formal. Can you suggest a fabric? If you have other ideas, I’d be happy to have them.

Window treatment questions are probably the type of questions we get the most - from our Designer for a Day clients (and our friends and family). And, for good reason. Window Treatments are complicated. There are a lot of options: shutters, shades or curtains. And within each category there are a million iterations. What size should the plantation shutter louver be? What type of fabric and liner for the curtains? Fabric roman shades or bamboo roller shades? Then there are options on how to install them. How high should the curtain rod go? Should the roman shades be inside mount or outside mount? There are a ton of style choices and a lot of technical choices too.

As interior designers, we are constantly taking professional education courses to understand more about this niche of our industry (and the latest technology) and we have also built relationships with window treatment experts. Both experts in all the options and experts in installing them. All of this is to say, we get it - this is an overwhelming part of home design. So, take your time to learn about your options and choose something that not only looks beautiful but will also hold up to the functional needs of your room and your family.

Now, back to the question. Let’s check out some photos that were sent along. On the left are the windows at issue and on the right are some fabric choices under consideration.

For starters, we love the plantation shutters! And we really love them in this application - on the lower half of the window only. Plantation shutters are an investment, but, if you can swing it, they’re well worth it. They provide amazing privacy, they let in all the light on the top half of the window, they’re very easy to open and close, they have a timeless style that works with any and every home, and they add an architectural element. So much to love.

In terms of layering on an additional treatment, we love the idea of drapes. Drapes (aka curtains) can stay fully pulled to the side and let in all the light during the day, but roman shades would eat into that natural light source. Even when a roman shade is fully pushed up, it still covers a portion of the window. In addition, drapes are great in older homes with lower ceilings because they create a vertical line, draw the eye up and make a room feel higher. Below is an example of drapes layered with shutters from our Lovell Project.

from our lovell project

For the drapes themselves, we would go very simple and classic -ivory linen with a light filtering/privacy backing. This room has a lot of pattern and mid-to-dark tones. Adding a light, flat color will be a nice break for the eye and also add the more casual feel she wants. The windows are too close to give them their own rod, so we recommend one long rod that spans both windows with drapes on the far sides. Check out our incredibly rough sketch below.

This will impact 2 (possibly 3) pieces of wall art. She will need to remove the art by the light switch and we would also recommend removing the decorative mirror between the windows for a clear space when the drapes are drawn. Finally, the larger piece on the perpendicular wall may need to be moved if it’s close to the corner and is touched by the drapes when they’re open. There can be an instinct to fill each open bit of wall with art, especially if you have a large, special collection. But, leaving blank space is important. Beautiful, happy design is all about balance - fill some wall space, leave some free to breath.

For hardware, she should look at the existing metal finishes in her home (brushed nickel, brass, etc.). And, when in doubt, go with oil-rubbed bronze because it’s a chameleon and can read both timeless and modern depending on the room it’s in.

Here are the links to everything we’re talking about:

Drapes - Mid-range and Budget-friendly

Drapery Rods and Brackets - Mid-range and Budget-friendly

Drapery Rings - Mid-range and Budget-friendly

We are big proponents of drapery rings because they make such a difference in the usability of the drapes. You can pull them open and shut easily. Make sure your drapery rings match the same finish as your rod and brackets, and also check the size of the rings to make sure they will fit around the diameter of the pole.

Question: Black or satin nickel for interior door hardware?

We love both! We also love brass. And chrome. And all the million shades of bronze. There is a home and place for all metal finishes. Your metal finish choice should be considered in the context of all other hardware in your home and the style of the home itself. And, even then, mixing metal finishes adds an eclectic, curated feel to your home - so you don’t have to stick to one thing. If you’ve chosen oil rubbed bronze for your light fixtures, you can still choose satin nickel for your door knobs. We generally recommend mixing (at most) three metals. And mixing two tends to be the easiest to juggle.

Can you mix metals for the knobs themselves? By and large, you should stick to one knob finish and style. But maybe just the bedroom doors have something different going on. Or your powder room is something quirky and fun. But, if you’re having trouble choosing just one knob, then don’t stress yourself out by choosing multiple - stick with one and carry it through the whole house.

The biggest consideration for function of a metal finish is shiny versus matte. For example, the difference between polished nickel and satin nickel. We love both, but shiny anything will be covered in fingerprints minutes after you clean it. If this is something that will bother you, choose a matte finish.

Let us know if you have follow-up question here (or on any of today’s questions)! We’re happy to dive deeper.

This is all for today. We’re hoping to share one (if not more than one) a week with all sorts of fun questions and design dilemmas we’ve received!

- Leah

Getting Comfortable Working From Home

Now that working from home is the new normal for many, many people, we wanted to pull together some ideas, inspiration and furnishings that will make your home office or dining table/kitchen island/random-console-end-table office more functional and beautiful.

from lovell Project

Designate a Space and Make it Functional - Whether you have an actual office or not, it’s important to take time to create a space that will work for you while you work in it. If you're spending half your day unplugging and replugging, detangling wires and sifting through a pile of files on the floor, you’re not spending much time actually working. It’s worth taking a couple hours and a bit of money to make it a space you can actually work…and maybe even enjoy spending a big chunk of your day.

Below are some functional items we found (they’re also pretty!) to help create a great space.

1. Cord Wrangler ($15)

2. Cord Organizer ($10)

3. Felt Peg Board - Take advantage of wall space ($10.50)

4. Wood Sphere Push Pins ($3)

5. Acrylic Computer Riser - This is amazing to elevate your computer for an ergonomically healthy working position (if you’re not working at a traditional desk). You can also slide a notebook or keyboard or files under it. ($9 - 1$18)

6. Steel Desk Riser - The intense version of above. We love how clean and organized it all looks. ($20 - $35)

7. Desk Notepad Daily Planner - This is about the size a piece of computer paper (pretty big) and it’s a nice way to organize all the non-work related stuff you have to manage in tandem with your professional schedule…because you’re mastering the art of multi-tasking under current conditions. Are we right?! ($18)

8. Mini Secretary Desk - If you don’t have a desk, but you have a bit of extra wall, this guy is pretty awesome for a temporary solution (or a full solution for a temporary work situation). ($250)

Clear Acrylic - If you’re someone who doesn’t have a designated office, and find yourself working in the middle of the kitchen or dining room…or walk-in closet…you probably need to increase function without adding clunky visual clutter.. Clear, acrylic pieces are sleek and minimal, they’re also great for seeing what you need without having to search around. Check out this storage system and file system.

Image via Anthropologie

IMAGE via One Kings Lane

Stealing Space from Existing Furniture - If you have a dining room or kitchen island near a bookshelf, it’s time to steal some shelf space for your office. All the decor, books and whatever else can be stored away from the time being. We love this inspo from The Cottage Market.

image via The cottage market

Home Office Refresh - If you’re suddenly realizing that you need a full overhaul on your home office, we’ve pulled together a whole new room for about $850 all in. Add a couple coats of paint and you’ve got a complete room makeover for under $1,000. Not too bad!

Paint Color Suggestions - Light Pewter by Benjamin Moore for a calm feel. Gentleman’s Gray by Benjamin Moore for a cozy feel.

X Base Wood Writing Desk - $300

Ivory and Charcoal Dash Chair - $350

Black Industrial Floor Lamp - $90

Acrylic Filing Box - $75

Acrylic Desk Top Organizer - $15

Felt Peg Board - $10.50

Blue and White Watercolor Art Print - $5

Black Frame - $30

Quick reminder to submit all your home design questions - we’re offering free virtual design advice for the whole month of April. We’ll answer everyone’s questions in a series of blog posts! You can even email us photos of your home and ask us to source furniture. We’ll do it all. So, email us, send us a message on Instagram, leave us a comment on Facebook or leave a comment right here!

- Leah